Senator ABETZ (Tasmania—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Employment) (14:09): There is a very real danger that, if Labor's budget mess is not fixed immediately, Australia will not be in a strong position to withstand any future global economic shocks. We need to take appropriate steps to insulate ourselves against these pressures. If we do not, Australia will be vulnerable to the vagaries of the global economy. If we shirk the hard decisions today, we will suffer the harsh consequences tomorrow, and we will be rightly judged accordingly. We all have a shared responsibility to future generations to do— Senator Lines interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Lines. Senator ABETZ: not that which is easy but to do that which is right. Today, the greatest obstacle to strengthening our economy, regrettably, is the Labor Party, which is blocking over $28 billion worth of savings, including $5 billion of their own savings that they promised the Australian electorate that they would keep. (Time expired)