Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

) ( ): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, whoever that may be. Who is the Prime Minister of Australia?

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

Malcolm Turnbull.

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

Senator Chisolm, a supplementary question?

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When will the Liberal Party tell the Australian people who they will be asked to support as Prime Minister at the next election?

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

Mr Turnbull has given a statement today in which he has indicated a process that may lead to a party room meeting to be held at 12 o'clock tomorrow to consider the leadership of the Liberal Party. If that meeting occurs, it will determine the leadership of the Liberal Party, and that, of course, will ensure that appropriate arrangements are then informed to the Governor-General.

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

Senator Chisolm, a final supplementary question?

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After five years of dysfunction and after adjourning the House of Representatives to avoid public scrutiny of this broken government, when will the Prime Minister, whoever that may be, let the Australian people cast their judgement by going to an election?

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

Mr President, as you know and as all senators know, an election is due in the middle of next year. That is the normal course of events. It will be up to the Prime Minister to determine when an election is held, in accordance with the Westminster system. The election, of course, will be an election that I trust will still be fought on the track record of a coalition government that has delivered record jobs growth, that is bringing the budget back to balance and that is delivering, and has legislated, tax cuts for Australians—tax cuts that the Labor Party intends to roll back. The Labor Party intends to roll back tax cuts for hardworking Australians and to roll back tax cuts for Australian small businesses. Ultimately, when it comes to the Australian people voting, they need to vote on the issues of the day and on the future of the country. And the future of the country will be in worse hands in the hands of those opposite, who will see Australian households and businesses paying higher taxes.