Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, 'Public Service efficiency dividend' is just budget-speak for job cuts. They are regrettable at any time and even more so in places like Hobart, where local economies are smaller and the effect of job loss is greater. Considering this, do you rule out further Public Service job cuts in Hobart or have you abandoned the government's 2014 plan to shift Public Service jobs from Canberra to places like Hobart?

Mr Ewen Jones interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Herbert will cease interjecting.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. The honourable member would be well aware that the government recognises the importance of a reliable, dedicated and responsible Public Service. But it faces the same challenges as the rest of the economy and must become more efficient and innovative in how it operates. That is why we are making $500 million available to transform and improve the efficiency of service delivery by the Australian Public Service. We recognise that investment is needed to drive modernisation and deliver savings.

We are all committed to ensuring that the stronger economic growth from Tasmania that it has been enjoying in recent times will continue and be stronger still. As the honourable member knows, Tasmania's economic future is not going to be led by Public Service engagement. It is going to be led by the economic activity arising from the big opportunities that our national economic plan offers. In particular, I draw the honourable member's attention to the real upswing in tourism, the significant increase in tourism, the significant increase in exports, arising from the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. That has been—

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance. The question goes to the planning that was being done by the government in mid-2014 about moving jobs out of Canberra to regional centres like Hobart.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Denison will resume his seat. As he will have heard many times in question time, the question had a long preamble and it had a lot of material in it. That was certainly one part of it at the end. The Prime Minister is in order.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. I gather that he sees great prospects for the Tasmanian economy arising from the engagement of more public services. I simply want to remind him that the real opportunities for Tasmania come from our economic plan, which is delivering right now stronger growth and more jobs in Tasmania—and it is not among the ranks of the Public Service. Given the honourable member's strong interest in the Tasmanian Public Service and the federal government's activities in Tasmania, I draw his attention to a number of items. The honourable member will be aware, I trust, that the CSIRO is establishing a climate science centre in Tasmania with 40 full-time CSIRO scientists. He will understand the strong commitment to Antarctic research, which of course is based in Hobart—and I am sure he has visited the centre of those operations in Hobart in the past, as I have recently. He should recognise that we have ordered a new icebreaker, which will be uniquely tailored to meet Australia's needs. More than $1.1 billion—

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Denison will resume his seat. Members can only raise a point of order once on relevance. Has the Prime Minister concluded his sentence?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I simply note that the government will expand infrastructure in Hobart to accommodate the icebreaker, which will of course be based there.