House debates Questions without Notice
Paid Parental Leave
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:41 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that Woolworths workers have negotiated an extra eight weeks parental leave? Why does the Prime Minister want to take this extra bonding time away from mothers and their babies? Does he agree with his ministers—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
that these mothers are rorters and fraudsters?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:42 pm
Members opposite should stop telling lies about ministers in this government. They really should stop telling lies about ministers in this government.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I would remind the Prime Minister that the term 'lies' is unparliamentary and I would ask him to withdraw.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I was not accusing any particular member opposite of telling lies. But, Madam Speaker, to assist you, of course, I will withdraw. The claims that have been made by members opposite about statements by ministers in this government are simply false. The assertion that was made by the minister who asked the question again is simply false.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I am not sure who is asking it. It is not the questioner. Is it the Manager of Opposition business?
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Under standing order 100(d)(i), the question referred to information which has not been authenticated. I would ask you to ask the questioner to authenticate those claims.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Standing order 100 relates to questions, not to answers.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
That is exactly right.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Prime Minister has the call because the question was completed. The Prime Minister has the call and he is answering. Standing order 100 does not apply to answers. The Prime Minister has the call.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member will resume his seat.
Mr Burke interjecting—
The member will resume his seat or leave the chamber! If the Manager of Opposition Business has an altercation or a disagreement with the member for Sydney, he can settle it outside the chamber, not here.
Mr Burke interjecting—
The choice is yours. You can take a 94(a) one-hour suspension, leaving the chamber, or you can resume your seat. The choice is yours.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Madam Speaker, let me make this point very clearly.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
This government welcomes businesses that choose to provide paid parental leave to their staff. We welcome that. We absolutely welcome that, and we know that many businesses choose to provide paid parental leave to their staff because they know it is in the best interests of their shareholders. They know it is in the best interests of their business.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Sydney on a point of order?
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
I seek leave to table these statements from Minister Morrison and from the Treasurer—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
You can do that at the end of question time, not in the middle of an answer. The member will resume her seat.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
that show—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Sydney will resume her seat or leave under 94(a); the choice is hers.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Madam Speaker, let us be very clear.
An honourable member interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
For goodness sake, you ought to know it by now!
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Over the years many businesses, including Woolworths, have chosen to give paid parental leave to their staff because they know that it makes good sense for their business. It does make good sense for their business, and it will continue to make good sense for their business, but, where a business chooses to provide less paid parental leave than is given by the government's scheme, the government will make it up. That is what will happen. But what we are not going to allow is double-dipping, because, when it comes to Commonwealth public servants and when it comes to state public servants—
Ms Claydon interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Newcastle is not in her seat. She may not speak.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
they are already getting generous paid parental leave from the taxpayer through their employers. They do not deserve it from taxpayers twice, and that is what members opposite are saying.
Ms Ryan interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Lalor will leave unless she desists from speaking while not in her seat!
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
They are saying that public servants in particular should get paid for paid parental leave twice by the taxpayers of Australia. What I really want to hear from members opposite is how they are going to pay for it.
Honourable members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Prime Minister will resume his seat. I will not have this wall of noise. There are standing orders by which we operate in this chamber, and we will abide by them.