Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, whoever that may be. How many ministers currently serve in the Liberal-National government? Who are they, and what are their portfolios?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister earlier outlined representational arrangements. We have had a couple of quips; they are not necessary on an ongoing basis.

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

On that ruling, the minister outlined representing arrangements and who would take questions for question time. The substance of Senator McCarthy's question is quite different.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was referring to the quip at the beginning of the question that said, 'Whoever that may be.' It is clear who is representing the Prime Minister.

Senator Abetz interjecting—

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

You can see them, can't you, Senator Abetz?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz and Senator Wong, it is clear who is representing the Prime Minister.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Indeed, I did outline representational arrangements. It is a matter of fact there has been a number resignations from the ministry. Those resignations, of course, will be filled in due course. Once ministerial arrangements have been completed and updated, then the Senate will receive a tabled copy of ministerial arrangements as is the normal course of events.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McCarthy, a supplementary question?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many ministers have resigned, and who are they?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer the senator to my previous answer.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McCarthy, a final supplementary question?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After five years of dysfunction, after adjourning the House of Representatives to avoid public scrutiny and without a Prime Minister or a functioning government, when will the Prime Minister—whoever that may be—let the Australian people cast their judgement on this broken government by going to an election?

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Macdonald, I've asked for silence during questions.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will have an election in the normal course of events. But it will be an election, as I've told this Senate chamber already, that will be a stark, stark contrast between this government—which has the track record of growing jobs, of bringing the budget back to balance, of ensuring that we have tax relief legislated for Australian households and of ensuring that we have legislated tax relief for small Australian businesses—and the Labor Party.

To those opposite, you ought to all be honest enough to go out there and tell that to the thousands of Australian businesses whose tax rates you're going to put up relative to what this parliament has legislated. You ought to be honest enough to go out there and tell that to the Australian households who you're going to make pay higher levels of income tax. Australian retirees are going to pay higher levels of tax under your tax policy. There is $200 billion plus of higher taxes under the Labor Party that Australians will have to pay. (Time expired)