Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, why is it so hard for you to repeat the Prime Minister’s statement to this parliament that working families in Australia have never been better off?

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This gives me the opportunity to talk further about the benefits which this government has delivered to families. Of course, before this government was elected there was no family tax benefit part B; that was introduced by this government.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This is a very simple question about the nine words that will not pass the Treasurer’s lips.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. Let me make two points in response to this point of order. The first thing is that the Treasurer has hardly begun to answer the question and the second is that he is clearly speaking on families, and he is in order. I call the Treasurer.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am talking about the way in which this government has improved the position of families.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Alby Schultz (Hume, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. To my knowledge, I have never stood up to make a point of order, but I have to say to you that it is very difficult to hear what the Treasurer is saying because of the noise coming from the other side of the chamber.

Chris Hayes (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Hayes interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Werriwa is warned! The member for Hume raises a valid point of order. The Treasurer will be heard. I call the Treasurer.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It gives me an opportunity to talk about the way in which families have been assisted by the government’s family tax benefits improvements over the last 10 years. The family tax benefit part B was introduced by this government. There was no family tax benefit part B before this government introduced it. That benefit goes to families who have only one income earner. In addition to that, the government increased from $2,420 to $4,460 the maximum family tax benefit part A per child.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Albanese interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler is warned!

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler may not know this: that is an increase per child. In addition to that, of course, the government introduced the annual supplement, which the Labor Party attempted to abolish. In addition to that, the government increased rent assistance and—

Kate Ellis (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Kate Ellis interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Adelaide is warned!

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

in addition to that, there is a better opportunity today than in the last 33 years for families—

Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mrs Irwin interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Fowler is warned!

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to get into the workforce and to take the opportunity to actually get a job. All of that means that the position of families today is significantly better than it was 10 years ago. It means that the Liberal Party has put families first—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat.

Kim Wilkie (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Wilkie interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Swan will remove himself under standing order 94(a).

The member for Swan then left the chamber.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would back up the point of order taken earlier by the member for Hume. The noise level is just intolerable. It is impossible to hear because of the kind of barracking that we are hearing now.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the Leader of the House is well aware that the chair is taking steps to deal with it. I call the Treasurer.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All of that means that the position of families has improved very considerably over the last 10 years. It means that families are in a stronger position than they were in 1996. And it means that all of that is at risk if the Labor Party is elected, because the Labor Party stands for lower wages, taking back family tax benefit and less economic opportunity for Australian families.