Senator WILLIAMS (New South Wales) (15:19): I am sure that the former speaker was referring to the Prime Minister, 'Mr' Abbott when he shut down his so-called words of wisdom. I find it amazing that those opposite are making a big political issue out of the building of the submarines. The first question you ask is: what did the Labor Party do for the construction of submarines in the six years they were in government? The answer is very simple— Senator Abetz: Nothing! Senator WILLIAMS: Senator Abetz, I will take your interjection! Of course, the answer is simple: 'nothing'. Nothing at all. Hang on—we actually got that wrong. They did one thing: they talked about it. Senator Abetz: They announced it! Senator WILLIAMS: Like many things, they made announcements. But, of course, actions speak louder than words, and they never did a thing as far as improving our Defence Force to keep our nation safe and secure. The hysteria of the Labor Party on this issue must end. They must put national security ahead of supporting their union mates. The government's approach to acquire the submarines follows exactly the same process as that in place for all major defence projects since the 2003 Kinnaird reforms to defence procurement. This process has been used by previous governments, and was the same process that was going to be used by Labor if they ever got around to making any decisions. We will follow due process. There will be a thorough, two-pass cabinet process and we will receive advice from our defence chiefs and procurement experts to ensure we get the very best capability at the best value for taxpayer dollars. It is amazing that under Labor, $16 billion was cut from defence—$16 billion: a fact. The share of GDP spent on defence had fallen to 1.56 per cent, its lowest level since 1938. That is absolutely disgusting! How could the previous Labor government treat our Defence Force with such disdain; to cut, cut and cut and now leave us in the situation of the lowest percentage of GDP since 1938? This was just prior to World War II, of course! That is what our predecessors did to our Defence Force. Senator Edwards: And we're fixing it! Senator WILLIAMS: That is exactly right—I will take your interjection, Senator Edwards. We are out there to fix their mess. That is a thing that we have to do all the time: fix their mess—especially the financial mess they left us in, as they have done for all of my life. Ever since I left school at the end of 1972, whenever there is a Labor government and then they are thrown out of government, how are the books? The books are terrible! How is the bank account? The bank account is empty! How is the overdraft? The overdraft is bigger! That is the history right throughout of Labor governments' management of money, whether it be at a state level—from Victoria to South Australia to New South Wales to Western Australia to Tasmania—or a federal level. The Hawke-Keating government left $96 billion of debt at the end of their era in 1996. Who cleaned up the mess? The coalition government of course, under John Howard as Prime Minister and Peter Costello as Treasurer. The challenge we have now is to clean up your financial mess—almost $350 billion of debt as of last Friday—and here we are trying to put our budget back together so that we have money to spend on very important issues like defence, but you will not help us to get our budget in order. Senator Dastyari: What about paid parental leave? Senator WILLIAMS: Even $5 billion of savings that you were going to put forward, Senator Dastyari—through you, Mr Deputy President—you now oppose. You oppose your own savings! How ironic is that? How hypocritical is that? You are here to obstruct. I will tell you now: if the budget is not brought into order it will lead to one thing down the road; in five, 10 or 15 years' times it will lead to higher taxes. As the debt goes up and the interest bill goes up, higher taxes will be inevitable. Senator Kim Carr: Do you think taxes might rise in 15 years? Senator WILLIAMS: When we hit the brick wall of debt, Senator Carr, because of the actions of people like you—you are content to mortgage our grandchildren's futures away without any concerns about their financial situation—we will look back and we will look on you as the money wreckers who blocked our savings to get the budget in order. That is the most important thing, getting the budget in order so that we can afford to have a proper, secure Defence Force with modern equipment. But, no, you over there are just out to wreck the budget. It is in your DNA. It is as simple as that. A Labor government means budget mess. As I said, it has happened all my life. And here is a case of you crying poor, crying crocodile tears for the Defence Force, when history proves you made an absolute mess of our Australian Defence Force. You should be ashamed of yourselves. (Time expired)