Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister: 13,240 age pensioners in the seat of Reid will have their concessions cut for their water bills as a result of the Prime Minister's cruel budget. Why should these pensioners pay for the member for Reid's failure to stand up against the Prime Minister's cuts?

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

Concessions are essentially a matter for the state governments and for local councils.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

There will be silence to listen to the answer.

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

My understanding is that of pensioner concessions some 90 per cent of the burden is quite properly and appropriately carried by the state government. If I could address the shadow minister's general point, yes, we are asking some sacrifices of our people.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance. It is very clear—

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

There is no point of order. The member will resume her seat.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

in the budget papers the government is taking 1.3—

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

I ask the member to resume her seat and I would point out that once you add your political tag you open the question up for a very wide range of answers. I call the Prime Minister.

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

We are asking for some sacrifices, and everyone is making a contribution. As I said before, high-income earners are paying the deficit levy, members of parliament are forgoing a pay rise, motorists are bearing fuel excise indexation. This is a budget where all of us need to make a contribution so that all of us can be better off in the medium and long term.

The sad truth is that every single Australian was a loser because of the incompetence of the former government. We did not cause the debt and deficit disaster that members opposite gave us.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

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

The member for Grayndler will desist, as will the member for Gorton.

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

We are shouldering the responsibility of fixing it because that is what the Australian people expect of us, and we will not let them down.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

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

Sorry, I am calling the member for Flynn.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am seeking the call. I seek leave—

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

I am sorry, I am calling the member for Flynn.