QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE › Social Services Legislation Amendment (Omnibus Savings and Child Care Reform) Bill 2017
Senator RYAN (Victoria—Special Minister of State and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cabinet) (14:19): I am tempted to give the one-word answer 'no', but it does require some explanation. I cannot speak to when a determination was made to put it all into one bill, but it is not a matter of blackmail to pay for new government measures. What is a sign of absolute irresponsibility is to make promises and have no way of paying for them or to put them onto future generations of Australians. It is a moral issue that this budget be balanced. It is a moral issue that when we come out with new spending measures we find ways to pay for them. It is not blackmail to say that when I care about something I am going to do something about it rather than just printing more bumper stickers without finding a way to pay for it. The PRESIDENT: A final supplementary question, Senator Siewert?