House debates Questions without Notice
Education Funding
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:38 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the government's failure to provide any detail today about indexation, co-contributions, the student resource standard and loadings for disadvantaged students. Prime Minister, isn't this panicked school deal just a con?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The only con was Labor's pre-election con to take $1.2 billion out of school funding. That was the con, on top of the $3.8 billion it had earlier taken out of education funding and the $1.6 billion that it had earlier taken out of hospital funding. That is the con, but that is what we expect from members opposite after their great carbon tax con before the 2010 election.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I quote a point of order which you made in the last term. On page 553 of the House of Representatives Practice it states, under the old paradigm, that it was irrelevant to compare policies of the opposition with those of the government. That is under the old paradigm. For it to be, under the new paradigm, a direct answer to the question—
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
You were given more time, Madam Speaker.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
If I did raise such a point of order, I am sure that I did it more accurately. There is no point of order. I call the Leader of the House.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education
Bad day, Tony! You are really missing Anthony Albanese!
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Leader of the House will resume his seat. Have you a second point of order?
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
I do, on direct relevance.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
That is the same point. You can only have it once.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
No, you ruled earlier that unless we say direct relevance, it is not. On this occasion, I am saying it.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I am sorry, you did refer to 'direct paradigms'.
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Why don't you check the tapes, like you did yesterday?
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Yes, check the tapes, like yesterday.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Which I did do. We will deal with that later—and you. I call the Leader of the House.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education
I think the pressure is showing a bit on the opposition. Madam Speaker, I ask you to ask the Deputy Leader of the Opposition—who used a most unparliamentarily word to describe the Prime Minister during his answer, which in the hubbub has been lost because of the exchanges since—to withdraw the statement she made, directed at the Prime Minister.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
If I may conclude my answer: unlike members opposite, this government completely keeps its commitments.