Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is directed to the Treasurer. How can the Treasurer continue to work with the Prime Minister when he tells senior journalists he is committed to destroying the Prime Minister’s leadership? When will the Treasurer do the honourable thing: challenge or resign?

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me tell you how I work with the Prime Minister. I work with the Prime Minister on creating 2.1 million jobs for Australia. I work with the Prime Minister on balancing the budget. I work with the Prime Minister on clearing $96 billion of Labor debt. I work with the Prime Minister on introducing a new industrial relations system. I work with the Prime Minister on cleaning up Australia’s waterfront. I work with the Prime Minister on increasing the position of the lower paid in Australia. I work with the Prime Minister on increasing real wages by 20 per cent. I work with the Prime Minister on increasing child care—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Gillard interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned!

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I work with the Prime Minister on having a $500 pension bonus plan. I work with the Prime Minister on having a $500 self-funded retiree bonus.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We would like an answer to at least one question today.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer is being entirely relevant to the question that was asked.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I work with the Prime Minister in Australia’s biggest defence build-up we have even seen in this country. I work with the Prime Minister and his team of talented ministers. Most of all, I am going to work with the Prime Minister in making sure that the worst opposition in Australian history never gets elected to be a government. I am especially going to work to make sure that somebody so clearly ill equipped to be Prime Minister never gets anywhere near that job.

Opposition Members:

You! You!

Duncan Kerr (Denison, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Kerr interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Denison will remove himself under standing order 94(a). The Treasurer has the call and the Treasurer will be heard.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will work with the Prime Minister—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat. The member for Denison will remove himself immediately.

The member for Denison then left the chamber.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will work with the Prime Minister to make sure that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition never gets her hands on industrial relations. I will work with the Prime Minister to make sure the unions do not take over this country. Most of all, I will work with the Prime Minister to make sure we never have a Treasurer in this country who goes around giving money out in brown paper bags. Please move the censure.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my right are holding up their own member’s question.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just want to stress that leave will be given for the censure that these people now seem too gutless to move.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on both sides are holding up their question time. I say to the Leader of the House that this is question time.