Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
2:32 pm
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
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
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
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
I am talking about the way in which this government has improved the position of families.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Alby Schultz Hume, Liberal Party
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.
David Hawker Speaker
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
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
Mr Albanese interjecting
Peter Costello Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer
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—
Peter Costello Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer
in addition to that, there is a better opportunity today than in the last 33 years for families—
Peter Costello Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer
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—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
David Hawker Speaker
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
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
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
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.