House debates Questions without Notice
Budget: Minister for Communications
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:53 pm
My question is to the Minister for Communications. The minister has been very busy communicating lately. He has been working overtime, and on this side of the House we concede in very difficult circumstances. Why has the Minister for Communications gone on a media blitz to sell his own credentials rather than to sell this Prime Minister's budget of broken promises?
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education
I raise a point of order—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Leader of the House will resume his seat. Again, the strangest of questions. That is not one that relates to anything for which he is responsible in his official capacity. As you know, the standing orders are there to be complied with. But if the Minister for Communications wishes to answer the question he is free to do so.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
2:54 pm
I never shrink from an opportunity—to remind the Labor Party of the mess that they left this country in. The fact is the great failure of responsibility on the Leader of the Opposition's part. What a reckless man, what a hollow man.
Mr Shorten interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
What a hollow opposition full of complaints. What do they offer us: $667 billion of debt. That is what I am reminding people about and we are all reminding people about every day we speak. Had we stuck with your budget, with your plans, this country would sink deeper and deeper into debt. You had no solutions. The Treasurer produces a budget: do you have any alternative plans? Just heckling, just catcalling. What a tragic mob you are. No ideas. They say they do not like cuts. He has been very good with a knife in the past, quite the swordsman, but he is better at putting it into people's backs, isn't he? Always ready for the back cut.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Those on my right will desist. The member for Hindmarsh. There will be silence on my right, including the Leader of the House. The Leader of the House will desist. The member for Grayndler on a point of order, and it had better be on the right point.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
It is absolutely, Madam Speaker. The minister is halfway through and he has not yet uttered one word in defence of the budget—not one.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Strictly according to the standing orders, the question was totally out of order, but the minister has elected to answer the question.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
I could not believe the member for Grayndler saying he had not heard anything in defence of the budget. I do not blame him. He has probably got hearing difficulties and all his colleagues shouting and screaming. This is the whole point. This is the message we are all committed to and the single fact of the matter is this: you, the opposition, you, the Labor Party, left this budget in a shocking mess. You were spending more than you were earning and something had to be done.
Mr Watts interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
Yes, it is a tough budget. We know it is not popular. We picked that up, we know that. But do you know something: the alternative is this. The alternative is piling up debt, and what a weak and pathetic opposition that has no alternative budget, the first opposition leader in my time in this parliament that could not produce an alternative budget on the budget-in-reply.
Mr Shorten interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
Just one long whinge and that is the best they can do. What a hopeless opposition. They used to call the opposition the alternative government. Not anymore, no.
Mr Shorten interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
You could not regard this mob as an alternative. They are just a whingeing, whining, complaining bunch of political screamers. One of the members is often calling me a liar here. One minute I thought she was calling me a lawyer, which, while true, is nonetheless a low blow. But the fact is that we are taking on the reality of the financial condition you left us. We are cleaning up your mess.
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
It seems to me that some people are looking for an early mark to get an early plane home.