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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that in June the Prime Minister was asked about superannuation:

Can you foresee any circumstance in which the policy as detailed in the May 3 budget will change following the election?

and that the Prime Minister responded that it was 'absolutely ironclad'? How can the Prime Minister claim to lead the country when even his 'absolutely ironclad' promises cannot survive the extreme elements of his own party?

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

The honourable member opposite who just asked me the question of course went to the election with no superannuation policy at all. His plan was not ironclad; it was boundless! It was completely boundless.

Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was a lazy Susan!

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

That is right: it was the lazy Susan of superannuation economics. Again, this is the point I made earlier about the feigned indignation.

Mr Pasin interjecting—

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

The member for Barker will cease interjecting!

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

The honourable member opposite and the two Treasurers that served in the Labor government, notwithstanding the widespread recognition that the superannuation system called for reform, did nothing about it in six years of government. They did nothing about it.

We took this issue—this tough issue—out of the too-hard basket. My government took it out of the too-hard basket. My Treasurer and my Minister for Revenue and Financial Services took it out of the too-hard basket. We took it on and we have made those reforms. The opposition urged us to make some changes. Many other people did too. When we listened to them and made some changes—

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

You listened to George!

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

When the honourable member says I listened to George, he may as well say I listened to him! I may as well say that we listened to everybody because we listen, we consult and then we make decisions based on the public interest.

Here is the thing Labor should reflect on: this is the party of Dastyari. Let's not forget that.

Ms Butler interjecting—

The honourable member for Griffith! There she is, complaining about unfairness and the rich getting away with too many tax rorts. What did Labor do? What did her distinguished predecessor Kevin Rudd do about this when he was Prime Minister? Nothing. Did they tackle it? Not at all. Nothing at all.

Ms Butler interjecting—

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

The member for Griffith will cease interjecting!

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

It is our government, the coalition government, that took on this hard job of reforming superannuation. It is notoriously difficult; everyone understands that. There were 12 measures. One was controversial; one we have changed. We have done that in a manner that is fair, that is flexible, that maintains integrity and maintains the budget savings. I say the Treasurer and the minister for revenue have served Australia well by their work, and I thank all of my colleagues for their constructive cooperation and feedback in this collegiate effort of government serving Australia, defending our security, securing our prosperity.