Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question goes to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister finally pulled his Treasurer into line, forcing a backflip on his super tax. While the Prime Minister was overseas, inflation hit its highest level in 2½ years, smashing through the top of the RBA's target band. Now the Prime Minister has returned home, will he again pull his Treasurer into line to stop his spending spree, taking pressure off mortgage holders who are paying $1,800 more every single month on interest compared to when the coalition left office?

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

I'm pleased to get a question from someone who, of course, is now shadow Treasurer. He was promoted into the position of shadow Treasurer after going to an election with a $600 billion plan for nuclear power in the 2040s.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The deputy leader has asked his question.

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

And he actually has the hide to come here and ask a question that speaks about spending sprees when he had a $600 billion plan and the previous question up the back—

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

No. The yelling is going to stop, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. We don't need it. Interjections I can live with, but not the yelling. So no more interjections. I'm going to have to warn you. We'll reset, and the Prime Minister will continue with his answer.

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

The previous question, Mr Speaker, as you'll recall, was about cost-of-living measures. We know that, if you listen between the lines of that question, what they're saying is they would rip and cut everything that we are doing when it comes to cost-of-living measures to assist people. That is what we know that they would do, because it is in their DNA.

Then he had the hide to ask a question about superannuation. Labor is the party of superannuation. We created it. We strengthened it. The measures that have been put forward by the Treasurer will further strengthen the universal superannuation system. For a start, they affect a small number. They were apoplectic about 0.5 per cent of people who will be impacted by the changes, an equity measure. Not only do we now have an equity measure that we tried to get through last time but that was blocked by the 'no-alition' in the Senate; now we have a two-tier system. Just as our income tax system under this government is progressive—like the changes that we made to stage 3—we have made changes to superannuation which will make it more progressive as well, consistent with what Labor governments do every single time. At the same time, of course, we have legislated—

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

The Prime Minister will pause. I've been really fair with the deputy leader, and I was crystal clear and said 'no interjections'. I said the yelling would stop, as would interjections. So you're going to have to leave under 94(a). If I give a commitment, I expect people to listen. I can't be fairer than that. You can have a good go, but no-one can take the mickey here.

The member for Fairfax then left the chamber.

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

These are five measures, including on paid parental leave and super on paid parental leave, that we have done. That was never even thought about by those opposite. Last week, payday super passed the House, giving a lifetime boost to Australians' super balances. That was never done by those opposite. We are empowering the ATO to identify and follow up unpaid super so that it's paid fairly. We've made changes to lift the low-income super tax offset to $810 and to increase the eligibility threshold from $37,000 to $45,000. All of these measures, under this Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer, are strengthening superannuation. That is what Labor governments do. (Time expired)