Ms MARINO (Forrest—Chief Government Whip) (15:47): Mr Deputy Speaker Broadbent, now that you have moved into the chair, can I actually thank you for the measured response that you gave in this particular MPI. Some of the hysteria from the other side—could I just remind the member for Moreton— Opposition members interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Broadbent ): No, let her go. Please let her go. Ms MARINO: More of the same. The member for Moreton in his gross reflection on 'barnyard' people—I am a farmer and I do not respect that at all. The fact that you can say that in this place— Mr Perrett: I didn't say that! Ms MARINO: You did say 'barnyard'; I wrote it down. That is a reflection on every farmer in this country—every single farmer. Mr Mitchell: Not National Party members? Ms MARINO: What do you think a lot of National Party members are? They are farmers, and it is a reflection on all of us, which just unfortunately shows the disrespect that you have for rural and regional Australians and the farmers that produce some of the best food and fibre in the world. That is just dreadful in this type of debate. It really is dreadful, and I take personal exception to it as a farmer. Some of the most intelligent and capable people I know in this country are farmers. Opposition members interjecting— Ms MARINO: And what a dreadful slight that is as well reflecting on those members in such a way. How low can you go? You reflect on the farmers of this nation. You are reflecting on the farmers in this country. We can see—even by the responses that you have made today in this MPI—that you have simply reinforced Labor's determination to force down the value of people's homes. We have heard this repeatedly today. Of course we know that, for Australians, homes are their greatest assets, but there is a reason that those who are being hysterical opposite and denigrating Australians—can I just say to them—sit on that side of the House at this moment. In the 2013 election, the people were faced with a really stark choice. We outlined a plan for the future of this nation, a plan that was based on economic restraint—something that the members opposite are not acquainted with. We were taking responsibility— Opposition members interjecting— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I do not have to protect the member for Forrest but I would like to hear her. Ms MARINO: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker Broadbent. As we know, the coalition is committed to ending what is Labor's addiction to unremitting budget deficits and spiralling national debt. The Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government never achieved a surplus. Let's hear: when was the last time a Labor government achieved a budget surplus? I do not think anybody can remember. That is a trick question, and of course we know that Labor's spend, spend, spendathon is being continued even when they are in opposition. They only have one plan, and that is to continue to spend. I wonder whether the Labor members opposite care to think about the small businesses that have so benefited through the last budget and all of the decisions by this government. Some of them are actually the farmers that we heard being put down in the 'barnyard' comment just a few minutes ago—an appalling reflection. To think that those same businesses are out there working constantly for the benefit of not only their own businesses and families but their local communities and the broader economy. We have committed significantly to small business. As everybody knows: small business is a major driver of the Australian economy, and we have directly and actively encouraged, through the budget process, small businesses in Australia. There have been a lot of decisions: developing northern Australia; boosting productivity and reducing regulation—even science and innovation. Some people and businesses are very excited about our innovation policy. People can see a lot of opportunity in this space. They can see that not only do we have a vision and a plan but we also have restraint and we are very focused on economic management. That is what we saw reflected recently. In fact, I think the coalition government is giving a lot more confidence to people right around Australia—certainly in relation to their housing values and the value they place in those same houses.