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

I refer the Prime Minister to the question she was asked by David Speers at the Brisbane community forum: if you do not get the budget back into surplus in three years, what happens? The Prime Minister responded:

It's happening, David. Failure is not an option.

Mr Speers then asked:

If it doesn't?

To which the Prime Minister replied:

Well, failure is not an option here and we won't fail.

Prime Minister, was that promise as believable as your promise that 'there will be no carbon tax under a government I lead'?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course I have already answered the member's question once today when asked by the shadow Treasurer. Maybe the shadow minister for education would do best to direct his attention to how much money will come out of education to fill the $70 billion black hole that the opposition has got its way into. Will it be all of the money out of schools? Will it be all of the money out of universities?

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

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: if the Prime Minister does not have an answer to this question or is too embarrassed, she should resume her seat rather than simply—

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. Again I remind everybody, including the observers, the theatre critics, that a point of order is not a chance for a debate. If the point of order is on direct relevance, I remind the Prime Minister that she has to be directly relevant.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I have indicated to the parliament already in question time today, we will adhere to our fiscal rules. As I have indicated to the parliament already today, we are determined to return the budget to surplus. As I have indicated to the parliament and the Treasurer has indicated to the parliament both in answer to questions and in the statement he made before question time today, the global economic turbulence we have seen is turbulence we are not immune from but our fundamental economic structures are strong. Consequently, it has made the journey to surplus more challenging, but we are determined to achieve a surplus.

The thing that would press on those on the other side who are interested in the question of surplus most is the $70 billion black hole they have and how they are going to fund it. Of course, in a portfolio like education—and I do know the expenditures in that portfolio well—

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

The Prime Minister will finalise her answer.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to even make a dint on a problem like $70 billion you would need to be taking out all of the money in schools and all of the money in universities. The person who asked the question may like to direct his attention to that.