House debates Questions without Notice
Prime Minister
Angus Taylor Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:20 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister promised he wouldn't change CGT or negative gearing before the election. Then he did. He promised a $275 cut to power bills, which he never delivered. He said he didn't mock the Japanese prime minister, when he did. He said he didn't fall off a stage, when he did. He said his $6 million grant to the Marrickville Golf Club was to fix sewage flows, when it wasn't. He said the relevant program wasn't invitation only, when it was. Why does this Prime Minister have such a difficult relationship with the truth?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
2:21 pm
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I too saw pages 6 and 7 of the Daily Telegraph today.
Phillip Thompson Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Industry
I saw you fall off the stage!
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Might I say this—during the election campaign they ran ads on that, and how did that work out for them? What we are focused on is the issues of concern for Australians. Frankly, on the day after we had yesterday's inflation figures, where the government is dealing with an economic response to that, it is astonishing that they continue to get their advice from their friends who used to have a role in this place and don't anymore but have slots on media. What we do is focus on the big issues facing Australians. How do we, at a time of global inflationary pressures, get inflation down? How do we, at a time of fuel insecurity, secure fuel for Australians? How do we, at a time of cost-of-living pressures—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
give support to people in ways which don't put pressure on inflation but which deal with short-term issues and providing short-term relief while building longer-term support? That's why we do things that are serious, such as free TAFE, which lowers the costs of people undertaking TAFE but builds our skill base. That's why we tripled the bulk-billing incentive, so that more people can see a doctor for free whilst building Medicare for the future. That's why we're building agreements, such as the EU free trade agreement, which are not only important for our jobs and our economy but also about building a national security, because what that does, that diversification of trade, is it builds the diversification of those relationships and makes us less reliant at the end of supply chains.
This is a government that is serious about meeting the challenges which modern Australia is facing and doing it in a way that protects, as best as possible, the people that we are elected to serve. We take these issues very seriously, just as we take seriously issues of protecting children through the digital duty of care. This is a government that is focused on the needs of Australians. Those opposite are just focused on themselves.
Angus Taylor Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table the guidelines for the Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program showing this was an invitation-only program to correct the record, because the Prime Minister just misled the House.
Leave not granted.