Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)
10:04 am
I seek leave to move the following motion:
That the House—
(1) notes:
(a) on Monday, the Prime Minister guaranteed to the Australian people that "lower business taxes result in higher wages";
(b) on Tuesday, a secret survey of big business revealed that over 80 per cent of big businesses ruled out increasing wages or employing more Australians because of the Prime Minister's $65 billion handout;
(c) that today, in the last half hour, a leaked draft of a statement from the Business Council of Australia reveals the commitments that big businesses were unwilling to give:
(i) a commitment to "create more Australian jobs" was in the draft but deleted from the final statement;
(ii) a commitment to "increase wages" was in the draft but deleted from the final statement; and
(iii) a commitment to pay tax was in the draft but deleted from the final statement; and
(d) the Prime Minister is still claiming his $65 billion handout to big business will create jobs and increase wages when even big business says it won't; and
(2) therefore, calls on this out of touch Prime Minister to admit his $65 billion handout to big business is another example of this Government choosing the top end of town over ordinary Australians.
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 immediately—That the House—
(1) notes:
(a) on Monday, the Prime Minister guaranteed to the Australian people that "lower business taxes result in higher wages";
(b) on Tuesday, a secret survey of big business revealed that over 80 per cent of big businesses ruled out increasing wages or employing more Australians because of the Prime Minister's $65 billion handout;
(c) that today, in the last half hour, a leaked draft of a statement from the Business Council of Australia reveals the commitments that big businesses were unwilling to give:
(i) a commitment to "create more Australian jobs" was in the draft but deleted from the final statement;
(ii) a commitment to "increase wages" was in the draft but deleted from the final statement; and
(iii) a commitment to pay tax was in the draft but deleted from the final statement; and
(d) the Prime Minister is still claiming his $65 billion handout to big business will create jobs and increase wages when even big business says it won't; and
(2) therefore, calls on this out of touch Prime Minister to admit his $65 billion handout to big business is another example of this Government choosing the top end of town over ordinary Australians.
The Prime Minister has been caught out red-handed. Big business have made it clear what this handout is all about.
Greg Hunt Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health
I move:
That the speaker be no longer heard.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)
Point of order: if it is moved and carried that the Speaker cannot be heard, the parliament can't function. The parliament can't function. Why don't you move the correct motion? Because what they're wanting to hide—
Mr Hunt interjecting—
You don't have the call. You should know the rules by now; you've been here longer than me.
Sharon Claydon Newcastle, Australian Labor Party
The Manager of Opposition Business has the call.
Honourable members interjecting—
The motion is that the member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the Manager of Opposition Business be no further heard.
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
It is seconded, Mr Speaker. There's been a bit of tampering going on and the government is completely—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for McMahon will resume his seat. The Minister for Health has the call.
Greg Hunt Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health
10:19 am
I move:
That the Member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the member for McMahon be no further heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
10:22 am
The question is that the motion moved by the Manager of Opposition Business be agreed to.