Kirsten Livermore (Capricornia, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister for Disability Reform. Will the minister outline to the House how the government is helping Australian families as we work to build a strong economy? How is this supporting families in my electorate of Capricornia, and how can we continue to make sure families are not forgotten?

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Disability Reform) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Capricornia for her question because, from today, 1.3 million Australian families will get some extra help with the costs of sending their children to school, extra help that families need when they have to pay out for those new uniforms, shoes, schoolbooks, computers, school excursions—all of us know the list goes on and on. And, from next year, families will get the help when they need it: at the start of term 1 and the start of term 3.

This is going to include families like the family we visited this morning. The Acting Prime Minister and the member for Canberra and I went to Hughes Primary School and met with a family—Elizabeth and Anthony and their children Liam and Lauren. This family will receive $818 straight into their bank account this fortnight to help them with the costs of their children's education. We, of course, are sure—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Disability Reform) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have comments from those opposite about paying it back. Well, one thing is for sure: you are going to take it back off them.

Opposition members interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Disability Reform) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that those opposite will take it off them if they get the chance.

Opposition members interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Disability Reform) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is exactly what will happen—each and every one of you want to take this money off them. What we know is that this Leader of the Opposition talked about families having confidence in him—saying that, when it came to judging him, they could judge him on his record. He talked about the forgotten Australians, the forgotten families. Well, we know who forgot them! Each and every one of you forgot about Australian families when you voted no to the schoolkids bonus. And of course the member for Sturt has let the cat out of the bag today and made it absolutely plain that if you ever get the chance you will rip this money off families—claw it back; take the money out of the pockets of families—because it is only this side of the parliament that wants to help families. You just want to rip the money off them.

John Forrest (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In regard to standing order 65, can I plead with you to urge people in this place to address their remarks through the chair. It is there for a special purpose: it is less confronting. It is a matter I have addressed to previous speakers. I am hoping you will attend to the matter.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate the member for Mallee's assistance. The use of the word 'you' is inappropriate because it means I am doing it, and I am sure I am not. It is inappropriate. But the volume of noise in the chamber is also making it very difficult, and I would ask everyone to observe the standing order in respect of noise.