Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last year the Prime Minister stood before the Australian people and declared:

The only tax policy we're implementing is the one we took to the election.

Now Labor's leaked cheat sheet for broken promises says the government needs to use 'every lever' it can on housing. Minister, is 'every lever' in Labor's leaked cheat sheet for tonight's broken promises just Labor code for breaking election promises and slugging Australians with higher taxes?

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

Senator—through you, President—the budget will be delivered tonight, and I'm sure you will have plenty of opportunity to consider the excellent budget that the Treasurer has prepared, a budget which is about resilience and reform, a budget which is built—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many broken promises?

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

Senator Cash! Senator Wong, did you wish to continue?

Senator McKenzie, I've just called the Senate to order.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If it sounds focus grouped, it is focus grouped.

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

Senator Canavan!

Senator Watt! Senators, we have barely started question time, and I've had to stand up to regain order. I've called the Senate to order; that is what I expect, not having to call out senators like it's the school roll. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

Our budget will be true to Australian values: fairness, aspiration, opportunity for all and an economy that works for people, not the other way around—an economy that is more resilient and more self-reliant and an economy in which young Australians can get a fair crack at a good job and a good home for themselves. I've made this point about those opposite. I know that those opposite never believed that it was the job of government to try and ensure there was more housing supply. I am sure those opposite never believed that it was the job of government to make sure there was more fuel security in Australia. I am sure those opposite never believed that fair wages and conditions were actually part of government's job. But, you see, Labor governments believe in these things. We believe in decent wages and conditions. We believe Australians should get the opportunity to get a good job and to own a house. We think governments have a role in ensuring an economy and a community in which young people have that opportunity. In the aftermath of the Farrer by-election—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That you didn't run for. Where were you?

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

we again see it demonstrated that those opposite clearly have no vision for the country other than teaming up with Senator Pauline Hanson. That is the sum total of your vision for this country.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Cooee!

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

Order! I'm not sure who it was.

Senator McKenzie, I didn't hear what you said. You are to simply withdraw it, not make a statement.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw saying 'cooee'.

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

Senator Sterle, you will also withdraw.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Most certainly, President. I withdraw.

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

I would now ask that the chamber come to order. We just had the first question, and the place is like a football field. Senator Cash, first supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before the last election, the Prime Minister looked the Australian people in the eye and made them a promise: changes to negative gearing were 'off the table'—not under review or being considered but 'off the table'. That wasn't a suggestion. That was not a 'maybe'. It was a contract with the Australian people, and every home owner, investor, and family planning their future took him at his word. So why is Labor's own leaked cheat sheet for broken promises already rehearsing the excuses for the breaking of the promise tonight?

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

As I said in my earlier answer, the budgets are ultimately about priorities and values. One of our values, one of our beliefs, is that young people should get a fair go. Young people should get a fair go. I know those opposite—led by various leaders', and certainly by Senator Bragg's, views on housing—have consistently opposed everything this government has done on housing supply since we were elected. You have consistently opposed it because you don't actually believe that government has a role in ensuring that the next generation of Australians have access to the same opportunities that all of you have had access to. Our generation had the opportunity to own our own homes. We actually think that should be the legacy to pass down to every generation of Australians. This is a government who actually wants to do something about it. For four years, you have consistently broken your position on— (Time expired)

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

Senator Cash, second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many promises that the Prime Minister took to the last election will be broken tonight?

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

This government will always be true to Labor values and to Australian values. That's what this government will do. That's what this budget will do, and that's what this prime minister will do. If I may say, for the party that got 12 per cent in the Farrer by-election, I think you better have a think about whether or not—I know that standing for something might be an alien concept to those opposite. I know standing up for your values might be an alien concept—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! I think I had to try and shout louder than all of you, which is quite an achievement, at least four times. I've asked you to come to order. That is what I expect.

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

I know that it may be alien to those opposite to actually have values that you stand by and you implement through policy, because we've seen so little of that in the opposition over there, who are still—

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We ran. Where were you?

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

I will take the deputy leader's interjection. The senator who wants to be part of a coalition with One Nation—

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

Minister Wong, resume your seat.

Senator Canavan, if you care to look up, you will see your leader is on her feet. Senator Cash?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's on direct relevance. The question was merely asking for a numerical response: how many promises will be broken tonight—one, five, 10, 20 or all of them?

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

Thank you, Senator Cash. The minister is being relevant.

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

And how many voters have walked away from you? That would be the question. How many voters? Senator Hume was a prime example with that extraordinary performance on the 7.30 program, which all of you know was a train wreck, where she left open a coalition with One Nation. What sort of deputy— (Time expired)