Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. In this House yesterday, the Prime Minister said, 'Wages are increasing under this government.' But, Prime Minister, page 6 of the government's own Budget Paper No. 1 shows real wages will fall by 2.25 per cent this financial year. Are the Treasurer's budget papers wrong, or did the Prime Minister mislead the House?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Holt is warned. Order, members on my left and right. The member for McEwen is warned. Time is not to interject before any minister speaks.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm delighted to get a question from the opposition about wages because there are two different positions. Those on that side of the chamber had low wages as a key feature of their economic architecture. They consciously wanted low wages. We on this side have said very clearly that we want to lift wages. We understand that wages are a part of people's living standards. That's why I'll be very interested in what their response is to our aged-care position and the $11.3 billion that is in the budget to lift the wages of aged-care workers—250,000 of them.

You can't be serious.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is talking about wages—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can't be more relevant.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and who is getting an increase in wages. I'm going to ask him to pause, but out of respect for the deputy leader, I will take her point of order. He could not be more relevant while he's talking about wages increases, which you specifically asked about.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Respectfully, Speaker, this is on relevance. The Prime Minister is not addressing whether the budget papers misled the House or whether the Prime Minister misled the House.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to ask the Prime Minister to continue and ask that he not be interrupted in his answer.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm being totally relevant. No wonder they're concerned about the $11.3 billion package we put in place to assist the wages of people in aged care. What we've said very clearly is that aged-care workers deserve more than our thanks; they deserve a wage increase. That's what they deserve.

During the election campaign, I well recall, I kept that lucky $1 coin in my pocket. I kept it in my pocket during the debates. It's in the drawer. Here it is! It's in the drawer. During the campaign I thanked the minister for infrastructure for once again being helpful, because during the campaign I held up this $1 coin—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Deakin will his seat for a moment. The Prime Minister will pause as well. Member for Deakin, it is not appropriate to come to the dispatch box and say for someone to sit down. If you want to make a point of order, the Prime Minister can pause, and under the standing orders you're entitled to raise a point of order. I'll hear your point of order.

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, it was a point of order, and when someone stands for a point of order, it's customary that the minister sits.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's also customary to wait until you're called before you do that. Continue on with your point of order.

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Whilst the Prime Minister is holding up a prop, he should tell the Australian people that that dollar is worth less now than—

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat. Members on my right and left will cease interjecting.

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy is warned. I'll hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I refer to your previous rulings about points of order which are deliberately designed to disrupt that are clearly not points of order. I also refer to the warnings you have been giving to that particular member over the last few days.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order?

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, as you deliberate on this matter, I do remind you of the long-established prohibition on the use of props.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just going to ask the Prime Minister to put the dollar coin away and continue with his answer.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They find the dollar coin offensive? You know what I find offensive? The fact that they though a $1-an-hour increase for people on the minimum wage would wreck the economy. That's what I find offensive. And that's why during the election campaign I held up that $1—because that said it all about the difference between Labor and the coalition. Those opposite will always stand up for those who don't need government to make a difference. They're always there to say, 'Let the market rip. Don't worry about helping people who need help.' We on this side make no apologies for standing up for those people who are on the minimum wage, and I say to the Leader of the Opposition: you should have stayed outside for a bit longer, because it wasn't going well. (Time expired)

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! When the House is silent, I'll hear from the member for Lingiari.