House debates

Monday, 20 October 2014

Questions without Notice

Defence Personnel

2:45 pm

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

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Defence. I refer the assistant minister to his earlier response that the Parliamentary Budget Office figures were wrong. The head of the PBO, Mr Phil Bowen, has told a Senate estimates committee this afternoon that these figures are factually based and they are based on the salaries and wages budget estimates for the Department of Defence and arms of the services. Given that these figures are factually based, when will the assistant minister admit that the money is already in the budget and his government still wants to cut the pay and conditions of Australian soldiers?

Photo of Stuart RobertStuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question regarding the Parliamentary Budget Office reporting in terms of numbers. There is no question that the Parliamentary Budget Office looked at figures for uniformed military and for civilians. There is no question that those numbers increase year on year and, as stated previously, those increases cover 1,500 new soldiers, sailors and air men and women and over 1,000 new gap year participants and, of course, a 27th pay, which is a quarter of $1 billion—small money compared to the $16 billion, Leader of the Opposition, pulled out when the Labor government was last in power.

Let us talk about cuts, shall we, about what things have been cut and from where? I notice the member for Batman here, who was parliamentary secretary in the last Labor government. The parliamentary secretary wanted to take away the single return travel home for Christmas from 22,000 of our people. That is what the last Labor government cut. That was their Christmas present to our troops—'You can't get to go home.' That was stopped by this side. This side stopped Labor from cutting harshly in those areas. I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition would walk in here and talk about cuts after $16 billion worth of cuts. Labor took defence spending to the lowest level since 1938—extraordinary—down to 1.56 per cent of GDP.

Let us talk about what this government has done. We have taken funding back to 1.8 per cent of GDP. We took a funding envelope to the last election with three things that the last Labor government could never do. Number one, there will be no cuts in Defence.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order as to relevance. I asked the minister just one question.

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

What is the point of relevance?

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

It is relevance, Madam Speaker; I think that is clear. We asked him: if the money is in the budget, why—

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

The member will resume his seat.

Photo of Stuart RobertStuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

It is not the Senate, Bill. There is no supplementary here.

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

The minister will resume his seat and will refer to members by their correct title, as he was reminded earlier today.

Photo of Stuart RobertStuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

Forgive me, Madam Speaker.

Photo of Stuart RobertStuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

Three promises that Labor could never deliver: number one, there will be no cut to Defence; number two, we will return the budget to two per cent of GDP

Ms Macklin interjecting

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

The member for Jagajaga will desist.

Photo of Stuart RobertStuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | | Hansard source

and number three, that any savings within Defence would be reinvested. They are three things that Labor could not do; three things this government is doing daily.