House debates

Tuesday, 21 August 2018

Questions without Notice

Turnbull Government

2:01 pm

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

My question is to the Prime Minister: Given that nearly half of his parliamentary colleagues, including seven of his ministers, have today expressed a lack of confidence in the Prime Minister, how can the Prime Minister claim to have any mandate to govern this country?

Photo of Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

The mandate our government has came from the 2016 election. Remember that? We won and you lost! We're delivering! We're delivering! We're delivering on lower taxes, more jobs and stronger economic growth. We're delivering on lower energy prices, because what we're doing is standing up for the Australian people, who the Labor Party has abandoned. The Labor Party used to claim that it was in favour of giving people a chance to get ahead.

Dr Aly interjecting

They used to believe, member for Cowan, in aspiration—until it became a mystery to her colleague on the front bench.

Honourable members interjecting

The fact of the matter is that we are delivering strong economic growth faster than any of the G7 economies—record jobs growth, lower taxes and more investment in essential services than ever before—and we are turning the corner on energy prices, bringing them down. Labor, on the other hand, wants higher taxes, higher energy prices, less employment, less investment, slower economic growth and lower wages. That would be the consequence of a Labor government.

Photo of Pat ConroyPat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure) Share this | | Hansard source

A carcass, swinging in the breeze!

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Shortland is warned! I'm just going to caution members with the obvious caution: the level of noise is far too high. I will take action under 94(a) without warning, if I deem fit. I particularly caution the members for Bendigo, Bass and Braddon.