House debates Questions without Notice
JobKeeper Payment
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:07 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. How many more Australians are unemployed because of the way in which the Prime Minister designed JobKeeper?
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
JobKeeper is supporting over three million Australians. Over three million—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I hear the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition, saying, 'It should be six.'
Honourable members interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
Members on both sides! The Prime Minister will resume his seat. I'm not surprised if people mishear given the level of interjections. The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
There was no mishearing, Mr Speaker. He was the one who said there'd be six million. That was my interjection, and he knows it.
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The Treasury's initial estimate was six million—
Ms Plibersek interjecting—
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
as was explained at the Senate inquiry. But I'm pleased that only three million had to use that program and not six million. Only the Leader of the Opposition seems disappointed that three million Australians weren't in need of the JobKeeper program. Only the Leader of the Opposition seems to take some sort of pleasure in the fact that that estimate of six million Australians needing the JobKeeper program, a demand-driven program, was not necessary. What I can tell the Leader of the Opposition is this: our government is fighting for jobs, and the Labor Party are fighting each other.
Ms Burney interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Barton will cease interjecting. Members on both sides, the level of noise is far too high. You know what follows if it doesn't correct itself.