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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister abandon his plan to make Australians work until they are 70 to get the pension?

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

This government supports all of the measures that we put forward in the budget, because all of those measures are important to deliver the surplus that members opposite promised time and time again and never delivered. This is a government which is determined to get our budget back under control. This is a government which is determined to make our system sustainable. The only way to make the system sustainable is to take some tough but necessary decisions. Because for six years we had drift and betrayal we need to take the decisions which are necessary now in our national interest.

I would like to offer the member who asked the question this important insight. It is a very important insight. It says:

So in terms of life expectancy, 70 is the new 64. And in terms of health, 74 is the new 64.

With a steady decline in the share of backbreaking jobs, and ongoing improvements in medical technology, it is reasonable to expect these numbers to keep rising. Yet to look at many of the statutes on our books, you would think that none of these changes had ever occurred.

Who said that?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

No, it was not Bill Shorten—because he lacks the courage to tell the truth.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order on two matters: on both referring to people by their titles and on making reflections on members.

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

The Prime Minister will return to the question and not reflect on members.

Opposition members: Just withdraw!

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Withdraw what?

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

There is no need to withdraw; I have instructed him not to reflect on members.

Opposition members: Withdraw!

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What—that you haven't got courage?

Opposition members interjecting—

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

There will be silence!

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

The person who made these eminently sensible observations—

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will desist!

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Given that you ruled he had reflected on a member, he ought withdraw.

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

No, I instructed him not to do so.

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

But he just had. I am not going to repeat the words to you, Madam Speaker, because then I would be doing the same thing. You just ruled that he needed to return and not reflect on members. He should withdraw for when he did.

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

I did not hear him say anything which required withdrawal. However, if the member wishes to advise me what it is, then I will pay attention to that.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs then left the chamber—

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. It is perplexing that you drew the Prime Minister's attention to not reflecting on members and then said you did not hear it—

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

There is no point of order. The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. I said: 'The minister will return to the question and not reflect on members', and that is a statement that I will make frequently. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

In all the hyperventilation they might have missed it but, to keep them happy, I am going to withdraw. In terms of life expectancy, 70 is the new 64 and, in terms of health, 74 is the new 64.

Government members: Who said that?

If what this government is proposing is so wrong, I suggest to the Leader of the Opposition: sack your shadow Assistant Treasurer—because it is him, it is him, it is him!

A government member: He is telling the truth!

Opposition members interjecting—

Another member of club sensible.

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

The cacophony will cease. The call goes to the member for Barker.