Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question again is to the Prime Minister. Marlene Lamb turns 74 today. She is a grandparent carer in the electorate of Petrie who has cared for her 12-year-old daughter since she was four due to tragic circumstances. Marlene writes:

How the hell will I manage if I lose $100 a fortnight because of this government's cuts to Family Tax Benefit Part B?

Does the Prime Minister agree that grandparent carers like Marlene should lose $100 a fortnight?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I make two points in response to the member who asked the question. First of all, as a 70-year-old carer, no doubt she is on a pension. What we have done is scrapped the carbon tax and we have kept the compensation for pensioners. The first thing Labor would do if they came back into office is whack the carbon tax straight back on. That is the first thing that Labor would do—they would whack the carbon tax straight back on.

When it comes to family tax benefit part B we know that, when the member who asked the question was the relevant minister, she cut $15 billion from the family tax benefit.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They can interject and shake their heads. Labor in government cut $15 billion from the family tax benefit. I have to say that much as—

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, a point of order on relevance. This lady really does deserve a decent answer from the Prime Minister.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. The member for Jagajaga will resume her seat. That is argumentative and you know it.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I am entitled to point out, for the benefit of all Australians, the absolute hypocrisy of the person asking the question, who was the minister who cut $15 billion from the family tax—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will give you the call when the Prime Minister has resumed his seat. The Prime Minister has resumed his seat. Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer? No.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Would you ask the Prime Minister to withdraw the word that he used about the member for Jagajaga. It is deeply offensive.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the term 'hypocrisy' was applied particularly to the member for Jagajaga, the Prime Minister will withdraw.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I did not call the member a hypocrite but, nevertheless, I talked about the hypocrisy of members opposite. But, if it assists the House, I withdraw.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The Prime Minister will assist the House if he would simply withdraw.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I am happy to withdraw. The other point I would make about the member for Jagajaga is that not only did she cut $15 billion out of the family tax benefit but also—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Jagajaga will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

she changed the indexation method for the family tax benefit, from MTAWE to CPI. Shame on the member for Jagajaga! Here she is: she cuts $15 billion out of family tax benefit and she changes the indexation for the family tax benefit. I have one final point to make: members opposite plainly do not like our policies; tell us theirs. They do not like our savings; tell us theirs. There is a $58.6 billion budget black hole. Will members opposite, just for once, tell us how they would fill it. Because, as things stand, no spending is too much, all saving is cruel and yet, at the same time, they want a bigger surplus. Like everything with the opposition, it just does not add up.