After he’d given the Budget Speech to parliament last night, Treasurer Wayne Swan was interviewed by the ABC’s PM program — where he delivered what I think has to be the best line of the night.
Swan was explaining that unlike his Liberal predecessor Peter Costello’s Future Fund, which was never spent on anything, Labor’s future funds would be spent on “contemporary” infrastructure needs. Journalist Mark Colvin asked how they could still be called future funds.
MARK COLVIN: I mean, if they’re not for the future, what are they for? Why aren’t they just government spending?
WAYNE SWAN: No, no. You’re confusing the name Future Fund with a fund for the future.
Yes, I can see how he’d be confused…
[Update 10.30am: Here’s the relevant piece of audio.]
“you spin me right round baby right round”…