Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. I refer to his statement: 'These people actually did read the Productivity Commission reports. I use them when I run out of toilet paper.' Given this statement, why is the Deputy Prime Minister delivering the regions another Productivity Commission report?

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll tell you what: I admire his history lesson. That was more than 10 years ago! Obviously, they've got a lot of spare time on the other side. They're going through people's tweets; they're reading back—I don't know, maybe they're spending time on Odgers' reading the processes of the Senate. It's remarkable that you've reached back that far back in time. I must say, I'm kind of flattered. I'm a little bit flattered that they're so interested. I came here feeling a little bit down in the dumps but he's really perked me up. He's a good fellow. I can send him some of my photo albums, he can start having a look through those.

I think what's really important is that there's consistency between what happened back then and what happens now, and that is this: right back then I believed in the liberty of the individual. I believed that the state was there to serve the individual. Right back then I believed—you probably had the same position—that the state was your master. That's why the Labor Party believes—why are you so upset about me telling them about your policy, mate?

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

The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question went to Productivity Commission reports, which the Deputy Prime Minister says is a part of what the National Party has got from the government.

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

We don't need to go into an explanation.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He's not talking anything about whether the Productivity Commission reports are worthwhile.

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

I ask the Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat. The Deputy Prime Minister will bring himself back to the question.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy to do that, because we are making absolutely certain in the reports that come back that we are looking after regional people. We are making absolutely certain that we've got the checks and balances that oversee this in such a way that we can maintain the coal jobs. If they're affected by international circumstances, so be it. But we are not going to affect them with domestic regulations—the Labor Party are proposing regulations, and every worker wants to know whether the regulations affect them.

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

I will just say to the Deputy Prime Minister that the question was about Productivity Commission reports. He needs to confine himself to that.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The reason we are reporting back is we want proper checks and balances, because we respect our people.