Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Assistant Minister for Social Services) (14:40): Let me make clear to colleagues that the government remains committed to all of its social services budget measures. We are pleased, I might add, that the opposition has signalled support for savings measures around family tax benefit part A and family tax benefit part B. The opposition would be wise to get its facts straight rather than relying on newspaper reports. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left. Senator FIFIELD: Let me reiterate that the government, myself and the Minister for Social Services are absolutely committed to ensuring the sustainability of the welfare system. The opposition should indeed be supporting these common-sense measures that go some way to putting the budget back towards a path to being in balance. Senator Cameron interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order Senator Cameron. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on both sides. I think we should give the minister a little bit more latitude as we can tell his voice is not at his finest. Senator FIFIELD: We on this side know that those opposite have an alternative. The alternative is to continue the trajectory, to continue the path of debt and deficit which they started when they were in government. I know colleagues have heard this number before but it warrants repeating—that is, the previous government had the nation on a path towards a gross debt of $667 billion. That is the plan and that remains the plan of those opposite.