Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the chief of staff of the former Prime Minister, Peta Credlin, who, when asked to name the Turnbull government's achievements, replied: 'I'm pressed.' I also refer to former Liberal Premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett, who, when asked whether he could name one of the Turnbull government's achievements, said, 'No, not at the moment.'

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you have a question?

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is it—for Senator Macdonald's benefit—that senior Liberal figures cannot identify a single achievement of the Turnbull government?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, Senator Collins, I am a senior Liberal figure, and I can, so let me tell you about them: 3.3 per cent GDP growth in the last year—the highest increase in the rate of growth of any G20 nation, and the highest rate of growth in the G7—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order: I think that the leader of the government is continuing to mislead the Senate, and I would ask that he correct; Australia does not have the highest growth rate of the G20.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is a debating point, Senator Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, it is not; it is a fact. It is called a number: 3.3. India is 7.1—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But also it is a debating point during the course of this—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

China is 6.7. You can't even read your statistics properly!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He should correct the record!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Attorney-General—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! There are other places for this to occur. There is no point of order. Attorney-General.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know that Senator Wong hates to hear the good economic news about Australia: almost 220,000 new jobs created; a $195 billion spend on defence capability over the next 10 years, which puts Australia—

Opposition senators interjecting—

in a sector in which the government of which you were a member did not make a single decision in six years; a shipbuilding plan which involves the construction of 54 new naval vessels in Australia, when the government of which you, Senator, were a member did not construct a single naval vessel in Australia in six years; over three million Australian premises now connected to the NBN; more Australian premises connected to the NBN in the last month than in all six years that the government of which you were a member was in office; investment in critical telecommunications infrastructure in regional Australia, which will extend the NBN to people in regional Australia, even though—

Senator Conroy interjecting—

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy and Senator Carr!

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that would never have occurred to Senator Collins—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my left!

Senator Conroy interjecting—

Senator Conroy! Order! Before I take the point of order from Senator Cameron, I have observed people leaving the gallery through the noise. Senator Cameron, a point of order.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order: this is a health and safety issue. I am worried about Senator Brandis—he might have a heart attack here if he keeps going the way he is going!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! On my left! Can we just have a bit more decorum. We are now on the last question. Attorney-General, you have the call.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Now, where was I? Free trade agreements with China, with Japan, with South Korea—none of which was able to be achieved in the six long years during which the government of which you were a member was in power; free trade agreements now under negotiation and close to completion— (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A supplementary question, Senator Collins.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, in relation to the Prime Minister's achievements, 50 business leaders, former Liberal politicians, academics, economists, administrators, lawyers and lobbyists, contrary to your remarks, graded the Prime Minister a D plus. Does a grade of D plus demonstrate the kind of economic leadership Mr Turnbull had in mind when he deposed Mr Abbott in the last term?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, Senator Collins, I rate the Prime Minister's leadership as an A double plus. I will tell you why—and every man and woman who sits behind me agrees with me. So, Senator Collins, let me continue to inform you, because you are obviously unaware of some of the other achievements of this government. We have secured Australia's borders. Not a single illegal asylum seeker has reached Australia's shores in the last three years. We have given stronger powers to our national security agencies so that we can keep our people safe. In the field of health care, bulk billing is now at record levels—levels never achieved by the government of which you were a member: more than 85 per cent. We are implementing a $50 billion land infrastructure package, in particular— (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Collins, a final supplementary question.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I again refer to Ms Credlin, who says: 'If they'd had some bloody achievements, they could've filibustered about their achievements. That's the problem this government is in.' Does the minister agree that senators trying to cover up the government's lack of an agenda yesterday would have found it easier had the government actually achieved something or, at least, had you circulated your somewhat weak speaking notes? (Time expired)

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Collins, you have given me the opportunity to tell you about some of the government's many, many achievements. Let me continue. And if we want an extension of time, I am sure—we are building stronger communities. We began the rollout of the NDIS on 1 July this year. The NDIS, which was just an unfunded idea during the period of the government, of which you were a member, is now going to become a reality on our watch. We introduced Senate voting reforms to ensure that the Senate voting system was unable to be gamed, and as a result we have a more representative Senate.

And of course, Senator Collins, to close question time where we began, we have today announced that there will be a plebiscite on 11 February next year so that we can bring marriage equality to the Australian people.

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.