Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer inform the House how the Morrison government's fiscal discipline and careful approach to policymaking is enabling us to continue providing substantial economic support as our economy meets the ongoing challenges of COVID-19?

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Lindsay for her question, and I acknowledge her experience in the not-for-profit sector before coming to this place but also her Olympic connections, because her husband, Stuart, is a two-time Olympian for Australia and was the early coach of Jessica Fox, our wonderful gold medallist. I thank Stuart and note those connections.

The member for Lindsay is well aware of the significant economic support that is being provided to the people of New South Wales right now and, indeed, to Queensland and recently to Victoria and to South Australia. Income support: $750 per week for people who've lost 20 hours or more, $450 a week for people who've lost between eight and 19 hours of work and $200 a week for people who've lost more than eight hours of work but are also on income support. This household support, these payments to families and to workers, is on top of the business support that we're providing.

In Victoria, we joined with the Victorian government in a 50-50 split on a $400 million business support package. In New South Wales, on a 50-50 split we have reached with the New South Wales government, we are providing for businesses with a turnover between $75,000 and $250 million who have seen their turnover fall by 30 per cent or month between $1,500 and $100,000 a week based on the size of their payroll. This is very significant economic support. We've also been speaking to the banks who've agreed to provide relief to their customers, their small and medium-sized business customers.

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

The Treasurer will resume his seat. The member for Rankin, on a point of order?

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Relevance: he's been going for two minutes and hasn't mentioned fiscal discipline once.

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

The member for Rankin will resume his seat. The Treasurer is in order. The Treasurer has the call.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't know why those opposite think that having millions of people in New South Wales in lockdown is a laughing matter. I don't know why—

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

I don't know why the member for Rankin is seeking to block—

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

The Treasurer will pause. The member for Rankin looks confused. Let's be very clear about this: if you start throwing political accusations around, they're going to bounce back.

Mr Brian Mitchell interjecting—

I don't know what the member for Lyons is pointing to but he can be outside the chamber if he persists. This is actually not a negotiation. The Treasurer has the call.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not a laughing matter that thousands of businesses across New South Wales right now are doing it tough, and the Morrison government is standing by them, like in the member for Lindsay's own electorate, Karen and Alan of the Nepean Aquatic Centre have said that their receipt of the income support and the business support is going to help get them through and without it they would have a much more uncertain future. That is an employing business in the member for Lindsay's electorate. We continue to provide support and stand by the businesses and the people of New South Wales.