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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Under Labor's tax plan, anyone earning under $125,000 will get a bigger, better, fairer tax cut compared to stage 1 of the government's scheme.

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Mr Morrison interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Leader of the House and the Treasurer are interjecting so loudly that I cannot hear the question. It's only the beginning of question time, but I'm cautioning members on both sides. It's the Leader of the House who wants me to listen very carefully to the questions. I'm going to ask the Leader of the Opposition to commence his question again.

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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Under Labor's tax plan, anyone earning under $125,000 will get a bigger, better, fairer tax cut compared to stage 1 of the government scheme, so why won't the Prime Minister support Labor's plan to give 10 million Australians a tax cut of $928 a year, almost double the tax cut they'll get from his government?

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

We are a government that believes in Australians' enterprise and their aspiration. We believe Australians should be entitled to aspire to get ahead, to get a better job, to invest in their business, to make some real economic progress in their lives. Aspiration is at the very heart of everything we are doing, seeking to support Australians to realise their dreams. In the very DNA of our parties, the Liberal and National parties, we believe the government's job is to enable you to do your best, to realise your dreams, to aspire and to get ahead. You'd think that was pretty straightforward. You'd think that every Australian would embrace that, but not the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Today, she said, 'Honestly, this aspiration term—it mystifies me.'

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

Does the member for Sydney have a point of order?

Ms Burney interjecting—

The member for Barton is warned.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm seeking leave to table a document.

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

No, you cannot do that in the middle of an answer. It's very clear in the standing orders. The member for Sydney will resume her seat.

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

Imagine how her great hero, Paul Keating, would feel now. Keating said only a couple of years ago that the Labor Party 'has lost the ability to speak aspirationally to people and to fashion policies to meet those aspirations'. There is no doubt why they've lost the ability to do so: because it's all a mystery! It's all a mystery. From the hard-scrabble streets of Rosebery, with a household income of just under a million dollars, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition says aspiration is a mystery.

We believe that every Australian is entitled to aspire, to have great ambitions and high hopes and to seek to do their best—to get the best job or the biggest business and to realise their dreams. That's what we stand for.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

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

Member for Gorton!

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

It's what Labor used to stand for, but no more. This privileged elite opposite wants to keep the workers in their place. I remember when the Labor Party had members that had really worked. I look at this group of university-educated apparatchiks and I don't see any Jack Fergusons there. I see an educated, privileged class that wants to kick the ladder out so that others can't realise their dreams.

Government members interjecting—

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

Members on my right!

Honourable members interjecting—

Members on both sides! Quite obviously to all members, the level of interjections is far too high. I've mentioned a number of people over recent days. I've warned a number of people. I'm going to remind them that 94(a) does not require a warning. I've taken note of a number of people loudly interjecting and I'll take whatever action is needed. Is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition seeking to table a document?

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am. I'm seeking to table the transcript from which the Prime Minister partially quoted.

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

Is leave granted? Leave is not granted.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why can't I table it?

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

Leave is not granted. The member for Sydney will resume her seat. I'm not going to labour the point. The member for Sydney knows the rules of this place. She had to seek leave. Leave was denied. She's not going to remain at the dispatch box and debate the matter. She was warned yesterday on two occasions. She will now leave under 94(a).

The member for Sydney then left the chamber.

Government members interjecting—

Members on my right! I'm not going to keep warning people day after day.