House debates Motions
Liberal-National Government; Attempted Censure
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
3:03 pm
I move:
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving the following motion forthwith—That this House:
(1) censures the Liberal-National Government for misleading the Australian people before the last election and hitting Australians with its:
(a) unfair GP tax, hurting Australians every time they go to see the doctor;
(b) $100,000 university degrees, making it harder for Australians from modest backgrounds to further their education;
(c) $80 billion cuts to schools and hospitals;
(d) attack on pensions, meaning older Australian will be up to $80 a week worse off;
(e) $1 billion cuts to child care; and
(f) cuts to family payments, slashing $6,000 from a typical Australian family; and
(2) given the Prime Minister promised good government starts now, 521 days late, calls on the Government to immediately dump its:
(a) unfair GP tax;
(b) $100,000 university degrees;
(c) $80 billion cut to schools and hospitals;
(d) attack on pensions;
(e) cuts to child care; and
(f) cuts to family payments.
We saw yesterday in that weird kidnapping—
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
3:05 pm
I move:
That the member be no longer heard.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The question is that the member be no longer heard.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
3:13 pm
I would like to quote backbenchers from the Liberal Party—
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I move:
That the member no longer be heard.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The question is that the member be no longer heard.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
No, Madam Speaker, it is not.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
3:16 pm
I move:
That the question be now put.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, on a point of order, it was never seconded.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
No.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
I was about to say that I seconded it, and you told me to sit down.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
The motion has not been seconded.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Excuse me. The member will resume his seat. When I gave you the call, I asked, 'Is the motion seconded?' and I called you to answer that call.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
And, Madam Speaker—on the point of order—you instructed me to sit down before you allowed me to answer that call.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
No, by getting to your feet and speaking at all, you answered the call. The question before the House is that the question be now put.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
3:18 pm
The question now is that the original motion moved by Mr Shorten be agreed to.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
3:23 pm
I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.