Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, the former Prime Minister and member for Warringah said:

It is good that we are no longer talking about innovation and agility because, frankly, it loses people.

But, almost at the same time, the Minister for Finance said:

I think innovation and agility is an important part of our economic plan.

Whose lead will the Prime Minister follow today? And is agility still central to your government's policies?

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

Nothing is more important to Australia's future than innovation. Innovation is the driver of productivity.

Mr Hill interjecting—

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

The member for Bruce can leave under 94(a).

The member for Bruce then left the chamber.

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

And without continued growth and productivity, Australians cannot be competitive, our living standards cannot be maintained, and we will not be able to maintain a high-wage, generous, social-welfare-net first-world economy. So it is no accident that innovation is at the core of every G20 government's economic policy. It is no accident that innovation was central to the communique from the G20 summit in Hangzhou.

It is no accident that it was central to the communique and the discussions and the agenda of the APEC meeting in Lima. Innovation is key. It ensures that our children will have great jobs in the future. It ensures that the Zero Childhood Cancer initiative, which our government is supporting, will be successful. It ensures that children who are suffering from cancer today will find cures. It ensures that our service men and women, when they go into battle, will have the best equipment, the best technology and will be best able to serve our nation, and keep us safe and preserve our freedoms.

Innovation is fundamental to our success. It is fundamental to our plan. The National Innovation and Science Agenda is a critical element for our future, and its counterpart in every other country underlines the importance in this, the most rapidly changing time in human history, a time when the scale and pace of change is faster than ever. It is vital. I will quote, if I may, what I said at the APEC summit in Lima only a few weeks ago:

… the fact is we know what we have to do, we have to ensure that our nations, our businesses, our cultures are much more innovative. That is the key to maintaining strong economic growth.

… … …

Those who resist innovation are not defending themselves against the consequences of technological change, they’re making themselves vastly more vulnerable to it.

That is the government's policy. Our future depends on an innovative Australia.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I would ask the Prime Minister to table the document from which he quoted himself.

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

The member for Petrie has the call.