Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, last week Labor refused point-blank to rule out a spare bedroom tax.

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite may laugh. You may laugh, but will you rule it out today, or do Australians need to keep their doors open for the bedroom inspectors?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's the last question of this question time, and they've really gone to the bottom of the barrel, haven't they? 'Oh dear, what do we need for a backup? We'll go for the bedroom inspectors'—those very, very, very prevalent bedroom inspectors. Really? With all the issues that the nation faces, that the economy faces, that people face in terms of their cost of living, that we have in health, education, national security and foreign policy, they're going to ask about the bedroom inspectors. It's embarrassing.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order on direct relevance, I asked if the government will rule out a spare bedroom tax. Could the minister please answer the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, I raised this with you last week. Do not go into statements. I've raised it every time you've asked a question, and I'm going to remind you again today. Simply come to your point of order. The minister is being relevant.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, I can confirm to you that there are no plans for any bedroom inspectors in our government. Let me be very clear. I'm asked about tax measures, and I can confirm to you, Senator, that we will continue to make the tax system more efficient and fairer. We will implement our policy to give every single Australian a tax cut, and we will add to the tax cuts that we have already delivered. Let me remind you, Senator Henderson, if you're worried about tax, could you explain to us why you went to the election advocating for higher taxes for Australians? Most Australians would be very confused as to how the Liberal Party somehow turned from the party allegedly of low tax to the party of higher tax. We cut taxes for every Australian on 1 July 2024, and we will do it again from 1 July 2026 and 1 July 2027. That is Labor's tax policy.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, first supplementary?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is it so hard for the Prime Minister to simply say the words 'there will be no spare bedroom tax under the government I lead'? Is it because you actually plan to bring one in? I say to the minister please answer the question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ayres, in his answer, went to the fact that the coalition continue to engage in the internal debate that they've had for 15 years—and yet again we see it. They're still talking about carbon taxes. Most of these people weren't here for the carbon tax. It was a different parliament. The reality is that you and I both know that this is one of those questions that you're handed, and the sensible thing to do would have been to hand it back or rewrite it. Frankly, it is ridiculous, and I think, Senator, you know it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, second supplementary?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, I note that you have still not ruled out a spare bedroom tax, and this is no laughing matter. If you really think this idea is as crazy as Australians do, why won't you just kill it off instead of keeping it alive in the shadows?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy to talk about what is a laughing matter and what is not. The coalition's economic policy is a laughing matter. The coalition's environmental policy is a laughing matter. The coalition's economic policy is a mess, and we know that the coalition's health policy is a laughing matter. The reality is this lot have not learned from the election. They still have not learned. Senator Henderson is on her feet again!

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have called senators out by their names enough. Quite frankly, you are being disrespectful, and I don't want to have to continue to do that for the next 33 seconds. If you can't listen in silence, there's the door.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order on direct relevance. My question is: why won't the government rule out a spare bedroom tax? Could you ask the minister to be directly relevant?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Stop there, Senator Henderson. The minister is being directly relevant to your question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm using your words. You talked about what was a laughing matter. Well, the coalition's economic policy and tax policy are laughing matters. The coalition's health policy is a laughing matter. The coalition's climate policy is laughably back where they were 20 years ago and 23 policies behind. Of course, their nuclear policy remains a laughing matter because some still support it. You are not a serious party of government, we are not listening to your voters and you are not listening to where Australians are.

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