House debates Questions without Notice
Taxation
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors
2:38 pm
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister rule out introducing death duties?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
Order! The Acting Prime Minister has the call, and the parliamentary secretary—and he knows who I am talking about—is warned!
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
2:39 pm
I think that question just demonstrates how far those on the other side of the House will go to run a fear campaign. I refer the shadow minister to the answer that I gave in the House yesterday and the answer I gave the day before, but what I will say is that, when we responded to the Henry report, we ruled that out.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
We know what you're up to, Swannie!
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The member for North Sydney is denying his colleagues the call.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors
Madam Deputy Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Given the Acting Prime Minister's equivocation and refusal to rule out death duties, is he planning—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
Order! The member for Mackellar will resume her seat, and I will have silence! The member for Mackellar will commence her question again.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Madam Deputy Speaker, reluctantly I raise a point of order. A supplementary question is meant to arise from the answer, in this case of the Acting Prime Minister. The Acting Prime Minister gave a very clear answer. It is not our—
Mr Dutton interjecting—
When they stop yelling—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Madam Deputy Speaker, it is not the responsibility of those on this side of the House that those on that side of the House do not listen to the answers. The question has been fully answered. The supplementary—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The Leader of the House will resume his seat.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
In regard to the point of order—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
I am going to allow the member for Mackellar to start her question again. Her question is in order. She will be heard in silence.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors
Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. Given the Acting Prime Minister's refusal to rule out death duties, will he now rule out any increase in income tax to fund his $120 billion great big budget black hole—yes or no?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: the question is out of order. The question is out of order because the original question was fully answered. The supplementary question refers to an answer that was not given.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The question is in order. The Acting Prime Minister will answer the question.
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer
2:41 pm
There is no such hole, Deputy Speaker. I made that point yesterday. I made it the day before. I said it was a shoddy piece of journalism in the Financial Review. I know that they will continue to repeat it, but it is wrong.
Secondly, I answered that question before. I said we ruled that matter out in our response to the Henry report. There was one word that I thought everyone on the other side of this House should understand. It is the meaning of the word no.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The member for Herbert is not in his seat. He is going to behave, isn't he!