Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:47 pm
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer rule out the establishment of a new government bank?
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
I thank the Acting Leader of the Opposition for her question. I notice that with the Leader of the Opposition away she has finally got one, Mr Speaker.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
She’s got five!
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
The tactics committee says she has got five, is that right? She has asked me about media reports—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
I think it would be a good idea just to go through some of the media from this morning which relates directly to the management of the economy.
Sid Sidebottom Braddon, Australian Labor Party
Mr Sidebottom interjecting
Harry Jenkins Speaker
And for the member for Braddon, it might be the last talk that he has today!
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order of relevance. The Treasurer said I asked him about media reports. I did not. I asked: will the Treasurer rule out the establishment of a new government bank?
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
Mr Speaker, I said earlier that all of those allegations were absurd, but I was asked about reports in the paper. Of course there have been plenty of media reports about where those opposite are coming from in terms of the economy. This was at the doors this morning from a reporter to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition:
You’re changing your line from last week—
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order in relation to relevance. The doorstop interview has got nothing to do with whether or not the government is going to say yes or no to a new bank.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The question related to a proposal about a new government bank. I will listen very carefully to how the matter that the Treasurer is about to introduce in his answer relates to that question.
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
It certainly does, Mr Speaker, because there is a fundamental difference between those on this side of the House and those on that side of the House. We absolutely believe in infrastructure, in building it to invest in the economy—to strengthen it particularly at a time of global financial crisis. There are very big differences in terms of economic management between those opposite and those on this side of the House and they go to the very core of our future prosperity. This morning on the door, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was asked this question:
You’re changing your line from last week—
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and COAG and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on Emissions Trading Design
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. There is a difference between both sides: we are not for a new government bank and they are!
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for Goldstein is not assisting. The Treasurer will relate his remarks to the question.
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
This morning on the doors, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was asked this question—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! If those on my left would quieten down, I would be in a position to judge whether the Treasurer is being relevant to the question.
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
Mr Speaker, I have been asked a question about infrastructure—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
I have been asked a question about its funding. This morning in a doorstop, this is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was asked—
Chris Pearce Aston, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order of relevance: with the greatest respect, could you please ask the Treasurer to answer the question.
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
I have answered this question, Mr Speaker. This government is committed to investing in infrastructure, it is committed to examining any sensible measure to do so, and that is exactly what—