House debates

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Questions without Notice

Disability Services

2:40 pm

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

My question is the Prime Minister. The government is already cutting support for carers and Australians living with a disability. Now, the Treasurer has confirmed the government is looking at further cuts. Will the Prime Minister be cutting the National Disability Insurance Scheme, as recommended by his Commission of Audit, and will the NDIS be another victim of this rotten government?

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that contrary to his assertions there are no cuts of the nature that he suggests. None whatsoever. The Leader of the Opposition should stop scaring vulnerable people.

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

It is in the budget.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has the call and the Leader of the Opposition will desist.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

As for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, it will be delivered by this government. It will be delivered competently and sustainably. That is more than anyone ever could have said about anything done by members opposite, because everything that members opposite touched they destroyed. They could not help themselves.

Photo of Mark DreyfusMark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | | Hansard source

You are the greatest wrecker we have had in years.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will leave under standing order 94(a).

The member for Isaacs then left the chamber.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

They were incompetent in government and they are irresponsible in opposition. They were wreckers in government, and now they just want to wreck everything. That is what they do. They just want to wreck everything. Frankly, the members opposite should have a good, long, hard look at themselves. They should have a chat to Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and ask themselves how decent, responsible Labor people should behave. That is what they should do.

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

I seek leave to table page 203, which shows the cuts to carers payments and the DSP.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I have ruled that public documents may not be sought to be tabled, and that is a public document.

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

But the Prime Minister just misled the House.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. I call the Leader of the House.

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition made an unparliamentary statement about the Prime Minister, and I would ask him to withdraw.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

If the Leader of the Opposition made an unparliamentary statement—which I did not hear—

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | | Hansard source

There are motions that can be moved in the House if the Leader of the Opposition wishes to make those assertions, otherwise they need to be withdrawn.

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

References as to whether someone is misleading are always taken in the full context of the remarks. In the past, similar remarks have not been expected to be withdrawn.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I did not hear the remark, due to the noise in the House. But if it would assist the House, would the Leader of the Opposition withdraw anything that was considered unparliamentary.

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

Madam Speaker, I did say that the Prime Minister was misleading about the details in the budget, but if it assists you I am happy to withdraw.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Thank you. I would say that if one wishes to make those sorts of cases in the parliament there are other forms in the House.

Opposition members interjecting

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

Deliberately misleading.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Both are unacceptable.