Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, when asked about superannuation, the Secretary of the Treasury said:

… any government that doesn't have a process of review of their longer term commitments, I think, is letting the community down.

But, given that the Prime Minister has ruled out making any changes to superannuation ever, does the Prime Minister agree with the advice of the secretary of his Treasury department?

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

I am very pleased to get this question about superannuation from the Leader of the Opposition because it gives me an opportunity to reassure the retirees of Australia that we are not going to be raiding their piggy banks. We are not going to be raiding their savings. The savings of the people of Australia are safe with this government, unlike the situation when members opposite were in charge, when some $9 billion—

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nine billion dollars of new taxes.

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

I think there were 12 separate changes to superannuation. Remember the then Leader of the Opposition, Mr Rudd, back in 2007 made a solemn commitment to the Australian people on the subject of superannuation? It would not change—not one jot, not one tittle. What did we get from members opposite? Twelve separate changes and $9 billion ripped out of people's savings.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Madam Speaker. It goes to relevance. I asked: does the Prime Minister agree with his chief economic adviser or not? That is the question.

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

Simply repeating the question is not a point on relevance. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

Not only does the Labor Party have a very bad collective record when it comes to ripping off people's superannuation but the Leader of the Opposition has a particularly poor record when it comes to stealing people's savings. This is the bank account thief.

Opposition members interjecting—

Okay—trousering. I withdraw and I say 'trousering people's savings', because that is exactly what he did. If people's bank accounts had not been touched for three years, because maybe they were youngsters who were putting the money away for when they grew up or they were older people who were putting the money away for their retirement, what did the Leader of the Opposition do?

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Here you go.

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

Yes, that's right. There it is!

A government member: It's exhibit A.

Not one of these piggy banks was safe when the Leader of the Opposition was the relevant minister! Let me repeat this government's position on superannuation. We said before the election there would be no adverse changes to superannuation in the life of this parliament, and that is absolutely correct. We have delivered on that commitment. We have no plans—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Ms Owens interjecting—

Ms Butler interjecting—

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

The members for Jagajaga, Parramatta and Griffith will all desist!

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

to change superannuation beyond the life of this parliament and, unlike members opposite, we do not regard people's superannuation savings as an emergency fund to be raided by government whenever government is short of money. You cannot trust your savings to the Labor Party, but your savings will be safe with this government.