George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his recent statement in the media that through the flood tax the government is working to ‘rebuild infrastructure and homes’. Can the Treasurer outline exactly which homes of flood victims are going to be rebuilt by his flood tax?

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

I thank the member for his question, because it gives me an opportunity to inform him that they are eligible for money under the NDRRA, and that money is flowing under the NDRRA.

But, of course, as he correctly points to it is the case that there will not be sufficient funds under the NDRRA for those people who are uninsured to rebuild in all cases. That is certainly the case, and that is why we have worked as the government, and why so many people and business leaders have worked, to ensure that the public appeal funds are built up so that additional support can go to those communities. That is why donations to the Premier’s appeal in Queensland and other appeals around the country are so important.

As I was saying before in my previous answer—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. My point of order is relevance. The Treasurer was not asked about homes being rebuilt from private donations; he was asked about how the flood tax would rebuild homes.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer knows he is required to be directly relevant.

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

There is indirect assistance to people for their houses. In fact, when I have been around communities, and the Army has been there with people who own those homes, the support has been flowing and so has money to keep those people going in the immediate phases of recovery.

As I was saying before, 75 per cent of the public infrastructure is the bill that will flow to the Commonwealth. That is what we are responsible for under the NDRRA. The member for Dawson was talking about homes, donations and so on. Those opposite have been out there using the flood as the opportunity to raise money for the Liberal Party.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Treasurer will be directly relevant to the question or he will resume his seat. The Treasurer has the call, but he will not digress to matters that are not contained in the question.

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

I was referring to the fact that during all of this—during this extraordinary coming together of our community—where the whole community was out there helping Australians who were in great need—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will be very careful in the way he debates!

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

we had the spectacle of the Liberal Party using it as a fundraising opportunity.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Treasurer will resume his seat.

George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I thought the Treasurer was going to go on, but I seek leave to table a media report where the Treasurer actually states that.

Leave not granted.