House debates Questions without Notice
Small Business
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:00 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. On Monday, the Prime Minister said in relation to the small business bills before the parliament:
… let us not let politics get in the way of economics. Let us let self-interest get in the way of the national interest. Let us pass this bill straight away.
So why did the government vote against passing its own small business bills straight away?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
This was once the party of Hawke and Keating! Look at them now!
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
We will have no comments, thank you very much! We will have silence while we have the Prime Minister's answer to the question asked.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:01 pm
The parliament certainly should pass these bills straight away. If the Leader of the Opposition had his eyes open, he would notice that the Senate is not sitting.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The members for Rankin and McMahon will desist! The member for Chifley will desist! If someone needs to leave the chamber early to bring back quiet, we will have that. The Prime Minister has the call.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
What we saw from the opposition this morning was yet another childish stunt.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Is the member for Port Adelaide anxious to leave?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
It was yet another childish stunt from the Labor party—an attempt by the Labor Party to deny 11 Labor members and 31 coalition members the right to speak on this bill and ensure that they were able to demonstrate their support for the small businesses of Australia.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
This bill will, in the ordinary course of events, pass this House either later today or tomorrow, and the test for the Leader of the Opposition is: when it goes before the Senate, will he vote against referring it to a committee? That is the test.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer
That is right! Come on, be fair!
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
That is the test for the Leader of the Opposition. Will the Labor Party assist the government? Will the Labour Party assist the Senate to pass this legislation as soon as it goes before the upper house of this parliament?