Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the speaker be no longer heard.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business has the call.

Honourable members interjecting—

The motion is that the member be no longer heard.

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

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

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

Is the motion seconded?

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

It is seconded, Mr Speaker. There's been a bit of tampering going on and the government is completely—

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

The member for McMahon will resume his seat. The Minister for Health has the call.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the member for McMahon be no further heard.

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

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