House debates

Tuesday, 7 March 2023

Questions without Notice

Superannuation: Taxation

2:09 pm

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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister promise the Australian people on 2 May 2022, 'We have no intention to make any super changes'?

2:10 pm

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

I thank the member for her question. The member would be aware that the super changes we have announced do not take effect until 2025—that is after the next election. I do thank the Deputy Leader for the opportunity to speak about the promises that we made at the election and what we've delivered—

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

Order! The member for Fisher will cease interjecting.

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

because just yesterday we delivered on another commitment of an improvement in paid parental leave. It was promised and delivered. We've delivered on cheaper medicines—promised and delivered.

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

The Prime Minister will pause, and I will hear from the deputy leader on a point of order.

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

On relevance, Mr Speaker: the question just could not have been any tighter—there was no scope for preamble: did the Prime Minister say those words or not? And we seek your guidance, Mr Speaker, on bringing the Prime Minister back to the question.

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

The Prime Minister has been going for less than a minute. He's entitled to a preamble. The question was about a quote that he made. I will bring him back to that question and ask him to return to it.

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

We've made our priority clear on superannuation, which is what the question is about.

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

Did you make the statement?

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

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.

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

Once again, you have more angry ranting. What happened to the smile? You were going to smile more, Peter. What happened to happy Peter? Where has it gone?

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

Where's the integrity?

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

So much anger. So much vitriol.

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

Order, the House will come to order. The Leader of the Opposition. The Prime Minister will return to the question.

Opposition members interjecting

Order! There's far too much noise on my left.

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

I'm responding to the interjections, Mr Speaker. It's hard to respond when someone's just yelling nonstop from go to whoa. I'll tell you what we won't do. We've said what we will do on super, something that will impact one-half of one per cent of Australians and that's supported not just by those opposite—

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

The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Fairfax will withdraw that comment.

Photo of Ted O'BrienTed O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

The Prime Minister will continue.

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

We are a government for all Australians. They are a government for one-half of one per cent of Australians. I encourage them to go to the wall for that one-half of one per cent. I encourage the Leader of the Opposition to go to the Liberal Party launch on Sunday, to stand up and introduce Dominic Perrottet as the Premier of New South Wales and to say that this is the hill they're going to die on.