House debates Questions without Notice
Superannuation
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:00 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister promised Australians on at least 14 separate occasions not to make any adverse changes to superannuation. Prime Minister, is not delaying the increase to the superannuation guarantee for more than 8½ million Australians an adverse change for the retirement accounts of all Australians?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
More confected indignation from an opposition which has made itself irrelevant by refusing to accept the mandate this government won at last year's election.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There will be silence on my left! The question has been asked. The Prime Minister is entitled to be heard and I will have a general warning.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
There are no adverse changes as a result of this because, by delaying the increase in the superannuation guarantee levy, we are keeping more money in workers' pockets. That is exactly what we are doing—keeping more money in workers' pockets. A certain authority, to whom I will come in a moment, said:
… analysis suggests that, over time, superannuation guarantee increases have come out of wages rather than profits—
Who was that, I wonder?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
It was old 'Electricity Bill'. That is who it was.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I have to say not only is this government keeping its commitments but also it is doing the right thing by the workers of Australia.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Before I call the honourable member for Corangamite, I said there is a general warning and, if you are in competition to see who is the first to leave, the choice is up to all of you.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Given the noise that was coming from that side, is there a reason you are only looking over here when you make a comment like that, because that was unbelievable from that side?
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I said it is a general warning. It applies to everybody.