House debates Questions without Notice
Age Pension
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments
2:23 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister abandon his plan to cut the indexation of the age pension?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:24 pm
There is no plan to abandon indexation. Age pensions will go up every six months every year. That is the situation. We will put in place the indexation arrangements that members opposite think are fair for family tax benefits—and, if it is fair for family tax benefits, it is fair for other social security benefits. The member for Jagajaga and I disagree on some things but we do agree on some things as well. I would like to quote the member for Jagajaga, who said: 'As a parent, it is every parent's nightmare that your 15-year-old might drop out of school and basically do nothing.'
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. It is impossible to have a more tightly targeted question than this one, and the Prime Minister's answer is way off relevant.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The shadow minister is entitled to canvass areas of disagreement and I am entitled to canvass areas of agreement. The member for Jagajaga said: 'As a parent, it is every parent's nightmare that your 15-year-old might drop out of school and basically do nothing. We do not want to see 15, 16 and 17—
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I was wondering what you ruled on the relevance point of order.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
No, you did not say that; that is why I am asking you.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Well, I will say it now. The Prime Minister has the call.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
'We do not want to see 15-, 16- or 17-year-olds sitting around doing nothing. No parent wants to see that. The kids want the opportunity to earn or learn.' That is what the member for Jagajaga thinks. Welcome to 'club sensible'.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Prime Minister has concluded his answer. Is the member for Grayndler seeking the call for a question?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
I'm just seeking some resemblance of relevance.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. You know it is against the standing orders to—
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
I am reluctant to back the member for Grayndler this side of the grand final but, in terms of how relevance is going to be applied to question time—
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, he referred to 15-year-olds in answer to a question about the age pension. There are not a lot of 15-year-olds on the age pension. If that is relevant, anything is no matter what we ask.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I have been very tolerant in listening to the Manager of Opposition Business.