Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the minister for tourism. How can Qantas continue to support Australian tourism if it no longer calls Australia home?

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. It is a bit ironic. Labor has absolutely no credibility when it comes to tourism—none whatsoever. What did they do when they had responsibility for tourism? They increased tourism taxes—a 45 per cent increase in the passenger charge. They introduced a carbon tax—$115 million, not much different to the $106 million that Qantas has had to incur under a Labor Party carbon tax. There was a 12 per cent reduction in profits because of the carbon tax to the tourism industry alone last year. They reduced funds for Tourism Australia. Our capacity to market effectively on international markets was reduced. The ability for Qantas to take advantage of international visitors was undermined by the Labor Party because they reduced the budget for Tourism Australia. They have also increased penalty rates, which has crippled so much of the tourism industry in Australia. Of the 412,000 jobs that were lost in small business, many have been in the tourism sector. Also they have strangled visa access—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This was not a general question about—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'Give us a few minutes about tourism'—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It goes to relevance. It is a specific question about Qantas—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member particularly directed his question to the minister for tourism, which is part of the minister's portfolio. Clearly, he wanted an answer couched in tourism terms. The minister has the call.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Absolutely correct, Madam Speaker. It is highly relevant to show to those opposite that their capacity to talk with any sense of credibility about tourism is impossible. The fact of the matter is: the coalition is looking to provide Qantas with freedom, remove the ownership shackles—

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bendigo will join the member for Griffith and remove herself under 94(a).

The member for Bendigo then left the chamber.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and scrap the carbon tax, because we want Qantas to survive in this country, to be able to take advantage of the tourism opportunities, which will be enormous in the next 30 years but only if we have viable airlines in Australia. Those opposite have shown that they are not interested in creating a market for tourism, much less looking after Qantas, which is one of the great tourism assets in this country. Those opposite need to understand: if locals want to capitalise on the tourism opportunities, we have to maintain the airline, the tourism asset, that is Qantas—that international brand name, that very successful brand name. If you do not move with us on these bills, scrapping the carbon tax and providing that the ownership shackles be removed from Qantas, then you are doing a disservice to tourism.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's statements yesterday afternoon blaming Qantas's current issues on the carbon price. I also refer to Qantas's subsequent statements last night that said: 'Qantas's current issues are not related to carbon pricing.' Prime Minister, is Qantas wrong? And, if Qantas is right, when will the government stop playing politics and start fighting for Australian jobs?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am looking at a document that I understand Qantas released last week, and it says: 'Since financial year '09, Qantas has faced an increasingly challenging environment. Yields are down; the fuel price is up.' And then it says: 'Domestic carbon tax unrecovered of $106 million in financial year 2012-13.' So Qantas know that one of the problems that they have got is a $106 million a year hit—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order? Has the Prime Minister concluded? The Prime Minister has concluded his answer.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table Qantas's statement last night where they said the current issues are not related to carbon pricing.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted? Leave is not granted. Before I call the member for Forrest, I have noticed that the Leader of the Opposition has taken a habit of rising to his feet before the minister answering has completed the question, and that quite frankly led me to give him the call on the last occasion, because he was on his feet, but it was premature. So I propose—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on a point of order, on the operation of the clocks: not long ago, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the moment her time ran out, you were very strict on making sure the microphone was turned off at that moment. It does not happen for the ministers, and it is completely reasonable for the Leader of the Opposition to stand when the time limits—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you saying the time limits are not part of the standing orders, Madam Speaker?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am saying that the point of order you are making is not relevant at this stage.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, Madam Speaker, you just gave a ruling about how the Leader of the Opposition should—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat! Now I propose to give the call to the member for Forrest, and after that I will seek a call from the government benches to even it up. I give the call to the member for Forrest.