Senator SMITH (Western Australia) (15:07): On the second day of the new Senate in our country—a second day that gives effect to the decision that Australians made in September last year—what we have from the Labor opposition is an illusion. They would like you to think that they are concerned for veterans. They would like you to think that they are concerned for superannuants. They would like you to think that they are concerned for illegal boat arrivals. But nothing could be further from the truth. When we look at the facts, they speak very clearly. In September last year, Australians made a clear decision. That decision is reflected on this second day in this new Senate. That decision was to abandon the carbon tax. That decision was to abandon the minerals resource rent tax. That decision was to build roads for the future. That decision was to stop the boats and to protect human life by encouraging people not to take the risky course to our nation by sea illegally. Yesterday you would have heard the Labor opposition talk about other illusions, including the Medicare co-payment illusion. What they do not tell you about is that, in 1991, it was a Labor idea. Senator Gallacher: Mr Deputy President, I rise on a point of order. May the honourable senator address his comments through the chair? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Sorry; I was distracted. Senator Smith, please address your comments through the chair. Senator SMITH: I most certainly will. What we also hear from Labor is the illusion of the concern that the government might be abandoning quality education. Nothing could be further from the truth. We heard Senator Dastyari a moment ago accuse the government of running scared, but in fact the opposition in this country are being blatantly irresponsible. There is one immediate task confronting us all, and that is to repair the budget mess that was left by the former Labor government. It is interesting how little they talk about the budget emergency. It is interesting how little they talk about the urgent task that is required to fix the budget arrangements in our country. So do not listen to Labor. Do not look to Labor. Look in our national papers to find out what people are saying. Warwick McKibbin in The Australian Financial Review, just recently, talked about the very real international risks that put our country at risk if we do not repair the budget. The head of the Department of the Treasury had this to say about the opposition and what it had been doing in our national parliament. Senator Conroy: 'Stop saying it's unfair'! Senator SMITH: He talked about 'vague notions of fairness'. That may ring a bell with Senator Conroy. 'Vague notions of fairness' may a ring a bell with Senator Conroy. Senator Conroy interjecting— Senator SMITH: Senator Conroy might be reminded of the comment at the beginning of this month where the Treasury secretary said: We have got to do more just to stand still. He went on to say: … it's quite another thing to exhort to vague notions of fairness to oppose any form of reform. If you do that, if you use such an argument to defend what is an unsustainable status quo, what you are doing is consigning Australia to a deteriorating future. That is not your future, Senator Conroy, and not your future, Senator Gallacher, but the future of young Australians. Senator Conroy interjecting— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Smith, just resume your seat for a moment. There are too many interjections in the chamber. Senator Conroy: He's talking directly to me! The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I do not think he is, in fact. Senator Conroy: He's mentioned my name four times. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Names can be mentioned without talking directly to the senator. I will remind all senators to address their remarks through the chair, but there are too many interjections. Senator Smith. Senator SMITH: So the point is clear. The challenge is crystal clear: our country faces a very serious budget emergency, a very, very serious budget dilemma that does not affect my future but affects the future of young Australians, the future of your children and your grandchildren. But what we have from the Labor opposition is denial. They do not want to talk about it. They do not believe it exists. As I said, we have had the head of Treasury. We have had Warwick McKibbin in the Australian Financial Review. We have had the IMF. We have had the OECD. And you want to pretend that there is no problem. You come into this place talking about concern for illegal immigrants. That is an illusion. You come into this place talking about concern for veterans. That is an illusion. You come into this place and talk about concern for superannuants. That is all an illusion. Where is the compassion, where is the concern, for all the lives lost at sea? Where is the concern for the budget position of future Australians? If I had more time available to me in this brief opportunity, I would reflect on the ALP campaign review and share with people why it is that Labor now finds itself in opposition, why it was that Labor failed at the last federal election—because it did not listen to the concerns and needs of Australians. (Time expired)