House debates

Wednesday, 9 November 2022

Questions without Notice

Interest Rates

1:59 pm

Photo of Peter DuttonPeter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

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?

Photo of Sussan LeySussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | | Hansard source

Fess up!

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is not off to a good start. I give the call to the Prime Minister.

2:00 pm

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

The whole premise of the Leader of the Opposition's question is wrong.

Photo of Peter DuttonPeter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

What? You didn't say it?

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

But I'm happy to talk about the—

Photo of Peter DuttonPeter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes or no!

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question.

Photo of Peter DuttonPeter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

What about a straight answer?

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

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.

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

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—

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

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.

Photo of Peter DuttonPeter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

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.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

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.

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

He's so angry, and it's just after two o'clock!

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Prime Minister can continue with his answer.

Opposition members interjecting

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

It'll get worse: we've got an hour and 10 minutes.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left will cease interjecting.

Photo of Peter DuttonPeter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

What about the truth?

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

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.

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Thanks, Mr Speaker.

Honourable members interjecting

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question. He may not—

Photo of Peter DuttonPeter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

You sit down like a petulant child. Why don't you answer the question?

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I'm going to ask the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw that remark to assist the House.

Photo of Peter DuttonPeter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr Speaker, and if the Prime Minister—

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

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.

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

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.