House debates Questions without Notice
Asylum Seekers
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:53 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that almost 6,200 asylum seekers have arrived in the first three months of this financial year, four times more than budgeted. Is the Prime Minister concerned that, with each boat arrival costing taxpayers on average almost $13 million, the government's latest projected surplus will disappear if just 85 more boats arrive this year than currently projected?
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at their tactics meeting this morning! They really brought the originality and creativity to the table, didn't they! They really thought hard this morning! 'I know,' some genius said, 'let's go on carbon again.' And then another genius said, 'Let's raise boats'—not one question about MYEFO; not one question about the Asian century white paper; not one question about the future of the Murray-Darling.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
Order! The Prime Minister will return to the question.
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
To the Leader of the Opposition's question: yes, I am concerned about boat arrivals. I was concerned about them every day that the Leader of the Opposition came into this place and played his reckless negative politics in order to deny the nation the ability to process asylum seekers offshore. I was concerned about the cost of that reckless negativity to the nation every day it continued. And I continue to be concerned about the Leader of the Opposition's reckless negativity towards the Houston report. Let us remind ourselves who Angus Houston is. He is the former Chief of the Defence Force. Let us remind ourselves whom he was assisted by: Michael L'Estrange, a foreign policy expert, and Paris Aristotle, an expert in refugee policy. And yet, despite the delivery of that report, we have yet to hear the opposition say that it will embrace the national interest and work with the government to ensure all of its recommendations can be implemented.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order, reluctantly, on direct relevance. This is plainly a question about the impact on the budget surplus of the government's continued failure to control our borders. The Prime Minister's answer should deal with this issue.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The Prime Minister has the call and will be relevant to the question before the chair.
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
I refer the Leader of the Opposition to the budget papers. If he is genuinely concerned about this matter, then endorse the report of the former Chief of the Defence Force, Angus Houston.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:56 pm
Madam Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. In the light of that answer, I ask the Prime Minister: does she guarantee to deliver a budget surplus this financial year?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
No. It is the second supplementary. The Prime Minister has the call.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
Mr Robb interjecting—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
Does the member for Goldstein guarantee to pay some respect to the standing orders? The Leader of the House has the call.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
The standing orders allow for two supplementary questions from the opposition.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
My understanding is that this was the second, unless I have missed one.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
You can't count, Albo!
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
Order! The member for North Sydney recently asked for people to listen to him. Perhaps he could show some respect and allow other people to be heard. By my count, this is the second supplementary question. Perhaps the Clerk can advise otherwise, but by my count it is the second. The Prime Minister has the call.
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
2:57 pm
In answer to the Leader of the Opposition's question: I would refer him once again to the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which shows the government's plan for a government budget surplus.
Mr Dutton interjecting—
Ms Julie Bishop interjecting—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The member for Dickson and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition are warned!