James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) | Link to this | Hansard source

A fibber, a bluffer, a phoney, a flipper, a falsifier, a liar, a fabulist, a teller of porkies, an illywhacker—they are just some of the words and phrases that Queenslanders have told me they believe of the Prime Minister over the last few weeks. I know, Acting Deputy President, that I'm not allowed to use the word 'liar' to describe the Prime Minister, so I won't. But I think it's very interesting what Queenslanders think about the Prime Minister and think about the relationship between the Prime Minister and the telling of the truth. Queenslanders are sick of a Labor prime minister telling them one thing at an election and then immediately afterwards reversing, cancelling, stopping—

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sheldon on a point of order?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Unparliamentary language was used by the senator in relation to the Prime Minister.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath, could I ask you to withdraw that reflection on the Prime Minister?

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) | Link to this | Hansard source

I certainly withdraw the word 'liar'. I'm sorry, I know I should not say that again, but—

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath, please don't repeat the word. Just withdraw, please.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) | Link to this | Hansard source

I won't repeat it. It is unconditionally withdrawn. But it's interesting that the Labor Party are very scared because the Prime Minister is being found out for his relationship with the truth. Quite frankly, there is no relationship with the truth. The truth is in the room, the Prime Minister enters and the truth immediately leaves that room.

I have two young nieces, Sophia and Josephine, and I was explaining to them what happens in politics, what happens with the Prime Minister and what he says during an election campaign, when he promises to cut people's power bills 97 times but then puts up people's power bills, and he promises not to change negative gearing or capital gains tax and then reverses that promise. Do you know what they said? They said he's a 'capper'. That's youth-speak for someone who doesn't tell the truth. The Prime Minister is a yappy capper. He has capped constantly about anything to do with the economy, he's capped about inheritance taxes, he's capped about capital gains tax, he's capped about changes to negative gearing and he's certainly capped about power bills. It is very disappointing that the Prime Minister sets such a poor example to all Australians, but particularly young Australians, where he is someone who is in a different room when the truth is being told.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order from Senator Sheldon?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The senator's still using language that's inappropriate regarding the Prime Minister, and I'd ask him to withdraw.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just going to seek some advice from the clerk. Senator McGrath, I just remind you to be parliamentary in your use of language and to not use terms that are well known to be unparliamentary or close variations thereof.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I agree with you, Acting Deputy President. What is interesting for those who are listening or watching at home is that the Labor Party are very concerned about the Prime Minister and how he is being perceived by Australians when it comes to the telling of the truth, because Australians know that the Prime Minister does not tell the truth. After four years of—

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order, Senator Sheldon?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, it's important that we actually hold parliamentary language in an appropriate fashion, and, as the good senator would understand, he's not doing that.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath, just resume your seat for a minute, please. Senator Sheldon?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm asking for that to be withdrawn.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, it is not unparliamentary—the phrases that I used in relation to the Prime Minister and the telling of the truth. That is not unparliamentary. That has often been used in this chamber.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath, if you're prepared to move on to a different topic—Senator Sheldon, I'm happy to seek some further advice on that particular element of language from the President.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Labor Party are very scared, aren't they? But, moving on to a different topic, after four years of rising costs, higher taxes and declining living standards under Labor, the coalition is focused on practical policies and solutions to deal with these issues. Our plan delivers lower taxes, disciplined economic management, more affordable and reliable energy and practical solutions to the housing crisis by increasing supply and easing migration pressures. We will pay down Labor's $1 trillion worth of debt, we will cap migration to the number of new homes being built, we will axe all of Labor's new taxes, and we will scrap net zero and deliver cheaper power. We're going to back small businesses, restore our standard of living and protect Australians' way of life.

Senate adjourned at 21:53