House debates Questions without Notice
Higher Education
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:52 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's plans to Americanise our universities. Given that the Prime Minister is already saddling Australian students with a debt sentence, will the Prime Minister at least rule out applying the GST to university fees or does the conversation that he has asked Australia to have—
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Can I start again, Madam Speaker?
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
No. We have already got half the question on the matter of public importance.
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Will the Prime Minister rule out applying the GST to university fees—
Government members interjecting —
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There will be silence on my right! The member for Deakin.
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Madam Speaker, if I can continue. The noise was just ridiculous.
Honourable members interjecting —
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education
We're on the skids, Bill.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Leader of the House will desist. The Leader of the Opposition, to complain about the noise of the House when the noise coming from behind him is a cacophony is somewhat being precious. I could not hear the question, except I could hear what is to be the matter of public importance. However, he may repeat the question.
Andrew Nikolic Bass, Liberal Party
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Rankin, while you were speaking, interjected in a way that I think he should withdraw. He reflected on the chair.
Jim Chalmers Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition
I withdraw.
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's plans to Americanise our universities. Given that the Prime Minister is already saddling Australian students with a debt sentence, will he rule out applying the GST to university fees or does the conversation he has asked Australia to have include applying the GST to university fees?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:55 pm
The Leader of the Opposition is claiming, first, that I want to Americanise higher education and, second, that I want to introduce a GST. As we know, the only political party which has recently modelled an increase in the GST is the Labor Party. We know that. And the only political party which has lionised American higher education is the Labor Party, not just the Labor Party but the Leader of the Opposition himself and not in the time of Bob Hawke but just this year. I am truly amazed that the Leader of the Opposition should ask this question. He must be suffering from short-term memory loss, because in July of this year, addressing the New York Academy of Sciences, the Leader of the Opposition said, 'In supporting start-ups, nurturing creativity and rewarding ingenuity, America shows us the way.' America shows us the way. So not only has he been caught out—
Mr Morrison interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
misleading the parliament when it comes to a GST, but now he is caught out misleading the parliament when it comes to who wants to Americanise our institutions. The problem is that this Leader of the Opposition does not know where he stands or what he believes in.