Mr SWAN (Lilley—Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer) (14:07): No, it is not. What this government stands for is jobs and growth and in our time in office there have been over one million jobs created—one million jobs—and 500,000 jobs created in the last three years. We have put in place a range of policies to ensure that that continues. It would have been deeply irresponsible in the circumstances of this year's budget to come back to surplus quicker because the effects of that would have been on Australians in small businesses right around our country. So it is very clear now what the contrast is in this House between the policies of the government and the opposition. We stand for jobs and growth. The logic of their position is very clear: they stand for savage cuts to public expenditure to come back to surplus at any price and at any cost. That is the very clear contrast. We get this fiscal fearmongering from those opposite. They go around and talk our economy down, exaggerate the levels of debt, and what is that all about? It is all about the fact that they do not want to tell the Australian people what they would do if they were in power, which is a Newman-style austerity program, which will slash jobs in the Australian community and make massive cuts to health and education. We on this side of the House are proud of the fact that our No. 1 priority—it is in our DNA—is to support jobs and growth. It is the responsible thing to do in the circumstances in which we find ourselves as a nation. Global uncertainty demands that what we do is support growth with a responsible level of debt and deficit. That is an important thing to do. The contrast was there during the global financial crisis when those opposite refused to support our stimulus. Indeed, the Leader of the Opposition slept right through the critical vote. He was drunk and did not come into the House. He slept right through that vote— Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer will withdraw. The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The member for Bendigo is not assisting. The Treasurer will withdraw. Mr SWAN: I withdraw. Mr Pyne interjecting— The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business has the call and does not have the right to direct me as others on the bench are about to suggest. Mr Pyne: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, with great respect to you, I put it to you that the Treasurer has vastly gone past what is considered reasonable in this place. I would ask you to be absolutely certain for the rest of question time that he does not repeat that extraordinary performance. The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I was trying very quickly to draw the Treasurer's attention to what I thought was a very outrageous comment. I was actually trying to do it at the time. I take it very seriously and I will be watching carefully. The Treasurer has the call. Mr SWAN: Thank you, Speaker. Those opposite— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: And those who want to talk about trashing parliament perhaps should take a look at their behaviour at every question time. Mr SWAN: Thank you, Speaker. Those opposite voted against the stimulus that saved Australia, that saved hundreds of thousands of jobs. There are many members on this side of the House who remember that vote. I will remember it for the rest of my life. I could not believe that those opposite could be so irresponsible to come into this House and vote against that stimulus that protected our community when global demand fell off a cliff. It was deeply irresponsible. The Leader of the Opposition was not here. He was around in the House earlier in the evening and he was witnessed by many people on this side of the House for his activities on that evening. The SPEAKER: I now warn the Treasurer. Mr Briggs interjecting— The SPEAKER: I would not be tempting my fate, Member for Mayo.