Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
12:01 pm
I seek leave to move the following motion:
The House:
1. Notes:
a. That yesterday in Question Time, the Prime Minister said, and I quote, "increasing capital gains tax is no part of our thinking whatsoever";
b. That just hours later, the Prime Minister's own office confirmed to media that not only had the Government not ruled out changes to capital gains tax, it was still actively considering changes;
c. That leaked Coalition talking points from the Prime Minister's own office contradict the Prime Minister's statement in Question Time yesterday; and
d. Therefore, by the admission of his own office the Prime Minister has misled the Parliament and through it the Australian people; and
2. Calls on the Prime Minister to immediately attend the House to correct the record in accordance with Clause 5.1 of the Prime Minister's own Statement of Ministerial Standards.
Leave not granted.
I move:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Watson from moving the following motion forthwith—
The House:
1. Notes:
a. That yesterday in Question Time, the Prime Minister said, and I quote, "increasing capital gains tax is no part of our thinking whatsoever";
b. That just hours later, the Prime Minister's own office confirmed to media that not only had the Government not ruled out changes to capital gains tax, it was still actively considering changes;
c. That leaked Coalition talking points from the Prime Minister's own office contradict the Prime Minister's statement in Question Time yesterday; and
d. Therefore, by the admission of his own office the Prime Minister has misled the Parliament and through it the Australian people; and
2. Calls on the Prime Minister to immediately attend the House to correct the record in accordance with Clause 5.1 of the Prime Minister's own Statement of Ministerial Standards.
Yesterday, right at that dispatch box, the Prime Minister lied to this parliament. The Prime Minister stood up yesterday and deliberately misled, and now he has to come in here and correct the record.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the Manager of Opposition Business be no further heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
12:13 pm
I call on the Manager of Opposition Business to withdraw an unparliamentary remark he made during the division.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Withdrawn.
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
Yes. We have a Treasurer on the witness protection program—
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
and a Prime Minister who should be on the witness protection program!
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
We have an incompetent Treasurer and an untrustworthy Prime Minister.
Keith Pitt Hinkler, National Party
I move the member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the member for McMahon be no longer heard.
The House divided. [12:15]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
Tony Smith Speaker
12:17 pm
The question is that the motion be agreed to. There being more than one voice calling for a division, in accordance with standing order 133(c) the division is deferred until the conclusion of the discussion of a matter of public importance.
Debate adjourned.