House debates Questions without Notice
Charlie's Fine Food
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
2:40 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Charlie's Fine Food is a much-loved bakery bordering the Goldstein electorate. This morning, co-owner Ken Mahlab said, 'Sadly, there wasn't much in the budget for us. I think the government missed an opportunity to help us. There is virtually nothing that stimulates better productivity. There's not a piece of machinery in here for the instant asset write-off. I certainly don't think it's good for my business.' Why does this budget leave so many Australians behind?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Members:
Honourable members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
The member for Barker and the member for Deakin will cease interjecting, as will the Treasurer and the minister for infrastructure.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
2:41 pm
I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for that question.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water
Do you really, though?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Yes, because I must give credit where credit is due. To be able to say there's too much and too little in the budget at the same time in one question is quite extraordinary. The truth is there are measures, including support for small business, encouragement for them to spend money on their business and tax incentives, in the budget last night. But we know that, whatever was in there, those opposite would say no, because that is the approach they take to politics across the board, which is one of the reasons why the Deputy Leader of the Opposition got to ask a question about the Goldstein electorate. The member for Goldstein is sitting up there because they have rejected the negative politics of those opposite. After nine years of not being able to advance Australia's national interests, Australians turned to a government that was prepared to make investments in a better future. That's precisely what we did last night, whether it be the Medicare changes, including the bulk-billing the minister for health was just talking about; whether it be the support for small business that is there in the budget last night—
Milton Dick Speaker
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has asked her question.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
whether it be the support for energy price relief that those opposite opposed—
Milton Dick Speaker
I'll hear from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.
Sussan Ley Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women
On relevance. The Prime Minister hasn't mentioned small business at all in his answer.
Milton Dick Speaker
The end part of the question was: why does the budget leave so many Australians behind? The question is broad by that last part of the question. The Prime Minister has, from my count, mentioned small business at least twice. I ask him to return to the question.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Those opposite, including the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, voted against energy bill relief.
Milton Dick Speaker
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Remember that, last December? This morning on ABC News Breakfast the Leader of the Opposition said this, when asked if he supported energy relief payments:
We support those payments to families in the way in which the government has proposed them.
Well, why did you vote against them? Why? Could you do a reprise of yesterday for the Treasurer's benefit? The shadow Treasurer went further last night. He got asked by David Speers:
What about the energy bill relief?
The shadow Treasurer said:
Well, we've been supportive of that all the way along.
You couldn't make it up! And then he said:
As you know, we've always supported that …
Really— (Time expired)
Milton Dick Speaker
The Treasurer will cease interjecting so I can hear from the member for Calwell.