Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Minister for Finance) (14:38): I thank Senator Siewert for her question. The first thing I would say is that when we came into government we inherited from the Labor-Greens administration that preceded us a debt and deficit disaster that needed fixing. When we went to the last election we said we would fix the budget mess left behind by the Labor-Greens administration, and we are doing exactly that. Labor and the Greens left behind $191 billion of cumulative deficits after their first five budgets, and they left behind another $123 billion in projected deficits in their last budget. They were taking us to a government debt of $667 billion within the decade and rising beyond that. They left a situation where we have to pay $1 billion a month just in interest to service the debt that Labor and the Greens accumulated over six years in government. What we have done is transparently there for all to see in the budget. We have ensured that our spending growth trajectory is more sustainable, more affordable and more realistic— Senator Siewert: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I have left it until half-way through the minister's answer to see if he was going to get to my question, and he has not. Mr President, could you please remind the minister that the question I asked was specifically about the discretionary grants program. The PRESIDENT: I draw the minister's attention to the question. The minister has 56 seconds remaining. Senator CORMANN: As always with these questions it is important to provide appropriate context for the answer. The context of course is that we inherited from Labor and the Greens a debt and deficit disaster that in the national interest needs to be fixed. When it comes to young people under 30, we unashamedly have a policy position that it is not appropriate for young people who are able to work, are capable of working, and are healthy and fit, to walk straight out of school onto the dole. We happen to think that if you are able and fit and you are capable of working you should work, you should earn or learn. Our policies in the budget provide for that. We have put appropriate safety nets around that to ensure that people in genuine need of support continue to have that support. In relation to the specific question that was asked about grants programs, as always this government is committed to ensuring that all government spending is as efficient, as effective and as well targeted as possible. (Time expired)