House debates Motions

Coalition Government

Thursday, 13 October 2016 House of Representatives

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance

9:31 am

I seek leave to move the following motion, which may well have the unanimous support of the House:

That the House:

(1) notes that in the first 10 sitting days of the 45th Parliament:

(a) the Government lost control of the floor of the House of Representatives;

(b) the Treasurer introduced legislation containing a $107 million black hole;

(c) the Senate ran out of legislation to debate; and

(d) for the first time in the history of the Federation, an Opposition second reading amendment passed the House of Representatives, meaning the House, and all Government Members, voted unanimously that the Government has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia; and

(2) given the House has resolved the Government must explain these failures, therefore calls on the Minister for Revenue to attend the House to explain why the Government has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia.

Leave not granted.

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The member for Jagajaga is warned!

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Manager of Opposition Business from moving the following motion forthwith—That the House:

(1) notes that in the first 10 sitting days of the 45th Parliament:

(a) the Government lost control of the floor of the House of Representatives;

(b) the Treasurer introduced legislation containing a $107 million black hole;

(c) the Senate ran out of legislation to debate; and

(d) for the first time in the history of the Federation, an Opposition second reading amendment passed the House of Representatives, meaning the House, and all Government Members, voted unanimously that the Government has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia; and

(2) given the House has resolved the Government must explain these failures, therefore calls on the Minister for Revenue to attend the House to explain why the Government has failed to close tax loopholes and increase transparency in Australia.

If you cannot manage the parliament, you cannot govern the country—and they cannot govern the country.

Christopher Pyne

Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House

9:33 am

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The question is that the Manager of Opposition Business be no longer heard.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

9:43 am

Is the motion seconded?

Chris Bowen

Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer

It is. The Australian people worked out long ago that the Turnbull government—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The member for McMahon will resume his seat. The Leader of the House?

Christopher Pyne

Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

9:44 am

The question is that the member for McMahon be not further heard.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

9:46 am

The question now is that the motion be agreed to.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

Point of order, Mr Speaker. Standing order 67 says a member may request that the Speaker state the question or matter under discussion. I do that, Mr Speaker, so that we can be informed of what we are now voting on. It is good practice.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

As the member for Grayndler well knows, we are now voting on the question that the motion moved by the Manager of Opposition Business be agreed to.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

Point of order, Mr Speaker. Under standing order—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. I am not of the view that that requires me to state the entire question. Otherwise, that would have been happening in this House for a long period of time.

Mr Burke interjecting—

No, I am sorry. The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.

Christopher Pyne

Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House

9:47 am

I move:

That the question be now put.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The question is that the motion be put.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

9:51 am

The question now is that the motion moved by the Manager of Opposition Business be agreed to.