House debates Questions without Notice
Interest Rates
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
1:59 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. At Labor's 2022 election campaign launch, the Prime Minister promised: 'Labor has real, lasting plans for cheaper mortgages.' Yesterday, the Prime Minister denied making this statement. Can the Prime Minister just provide a straight answer: did he make this statement—yes or no?
Milton Dick Speaker
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is not off to a good start. I give the call to the Prime Minister.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
2:00 pm
The whole premise of the Leader of the Opposition's question is wrong.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
What? You didn't say it?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
But I'm happy to talk about the—
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Yes or no!
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
What about a straight answer?
Milton Dick Speaker
Order, the Leader of the Opposition! The Prime Minister is within 13 seconds of his answer. You've asked your question. I ask the House to be silent. I'd ask that the same courtesy be shown to ministers when they are answering questions. I call the Prime Minister.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
He's very angry, Mr Speaker. I'm asked about the 2022 campaign launch in Perth of the Australian Labor Party. Let me say that there wasn't a lot of anger there. What was there was enormous support. It was the first time for a very long time, if ever—certainly in the modern era—that a major political party chose to launch their election campaign in Perth. And I can think of at least four reasons why that was successful—at least four. When I look across there, at the member for Swan and the member for Pearce and the member for Tangney and the member for Hasluck, I'm reminded of how successful that campaign launch was.
The former government, of course, had prime ministers who couldn't find Perth. They couldn't find Perth over their nine years in office. But what we did as one of the centrepieces of our launch there was, of course, the Help to Buy scheme. What the Help to Buy scheme, based upon successful schemes that have operated in Perth, enables them to do—
Opposition members interjecting—
I'm asked about the housing policy; I'm asked about the 2022 campaign—
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! There is far too much noise. I'm going to ask the Prime Minister to pause for a moment. I'm trying to hear the Prime Minister, but there is continual interjecting on my left. It makes it very difficult, and I'm looking at you, the Leader of the Nationals. I call the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
It is on relevance. The Prime Minister was asked: did he make a statement about promising cheaper mortgages—yes or no? We just want a straight answer.
Milton Dick Speaker
The Prime Minister is answering the question. The question was about plans announced at the 2022 campaign launch, regarding interest rates and mortgages. I'm going to give the Prime Minister the call.
Order! The Leader of the Opposition.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
He's so angry, and it's just after two o'clock!
Milton Dick Speaker
The Prime Minister can continue with his answer.
Opposition members interjecting—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
It'll get worse: we've got an hour and 10 minutes.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
What about the truth?
Milton Dick Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition, it's a funny way to help. I give the call to the Prime Minister, and I'm asking the House for order. We're into the first question. I don't want to issue a general warning, but I'm calling the Prime Minister to continue his answer.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Thanks, Mr Speaker.
Honourable members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question. He may not—
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
You sit down like a petulant child. Why don't you answer the question?
Milton Dick Speaker
I'm going to ask the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that remark to assist the House.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
I withdraw, Mr Speaker, and if the Prime Minister—
Milton Dick Speaker
You may resume your seat. For the benefit of all members, if the Speaker asks you to withdraw, you withdraw immediately, without any other comment. I give the call to the Prime Minister.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
They're not happy, and it's only Wednesday.
At the 2022 campaign launch we had, as one of the centrepieces of that launch, our Help to Buy Scheme. That was based upon the very successful scheme that's been implemented for many years in Western Australia. There are also schemes being looked at in New South Wales by the Liberal government and of course being implemented in Victoria as well. Our Help to Buy Scheme is a good policy, and it was in the budget.