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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Last night the Treasurer referred to the 'Labor controlled Senate' and said of the Labor Party, 'They have the biggest block of votes in the Senate.' Prime Minister, given Labor has 25 seats in the Senate, while the coalition has 33, does the Prime Minister have confidence in a Treasurer who cannot count?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

There will be silence on my right! There will also be silence on my left!

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

The Labor Party and their Green coalition partners are the largest block in the Senate, by far.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The Member for Charlton!

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

I am very pleased to say that last night the Senate did finally pass a measure that members opposite embraced while in government. They banked it, but that they did not legislate it. Then they opposed it when we came into government. They opposed it tooth and nail. They opposed it up hill and down dale, but, as a sign of the careful, painstaking, courteous and collegial approach that this government takes with the Senate, we got it through last night.

I am pleased to say that there were some 400 budget measures last year. Well over 300 have been implemented. As of yesterday, there were some $16 billion worth of budget improvements to the bottom line. I am pleased that that has now been supplemented by $1.3 billion because, while members opposite do nothing but obstruct, nothing but complain, nothing but wreck, there is at least some sense of responsibility on the crossbench, and we are always prepared to work with responsible people in the Senate.

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

I seek leave to table the composition of the Senate. It even has a pie chart to make it easier for the Treasurer.

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

No. The member will resume his seat.