Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. I refer the Assistant Treasurer to this newsletter distributed in his electorate under his name that states:

We have delivered a surplus, on time, as promised.

In which year has the government delivered a surplus, and how much was that surplus?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Before I call the Assistant Treasurer, he will be heard in silence. The individuals who think their little tricks, as he walks up to the microphone, are cute should be aware they are wearing thin and that you are all out next time. The Assistant Treasurer has the call.

David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer ) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. Well, can you believe it!

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order, the member for Cowan! I cannot believe the disrespect that the opposition is showing to the chamber at this time. It was their question asked and the Assistant Treasurer has not even been able to get his words out. I believe that the public, who all too often watch this place, will be fairly appalled by the behaviour.

David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer ) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can you believe that the Liberals would come into this place and talk about the truth of pamphlets being distributed in the Lindsay electorate? Can you believe it?

Honourable members interjecting—

After the shameful examples of what they did back in 2007 in distributing that shameful pamphlet, can you believe it? The Leader of the Opposition shakes his head, but we all recall that when the pamphlet was being distributed—

Opposition members interjecting—

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker, on relevance. I did not ask about the believability of his pamphlet.

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

Order! There is no point of order. The Assistant Treasurer has the call and so far has not been able to actually get to his answer.

David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer ) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am pleased to be able to respond to the question in relation to this government's strong economic record. We are returning the budget to surplus and we will be delivering a surplus of $1.5 billion—that is what we forecast—and it will be a surplus that will increase over time across the forward estimates. That is because we are determined to manage this economy in the interests of working Australians.

It is always good to receive a question about the strength of the Australian economy from those opposite. You do not often hear them come into this place and talk about how strong the economy is. When they are out there, like the member for North Sydney talking to an international audience on Bloomberg, they will tell you how strong the economy is, or like the Leader of the Opposition when they are over in the UK speaking to an international audience, they want to claim their piece of the credit, but when it comes to coming into this place and acknowledging the realities of a strong economy, it is a different story. We have taken the responsible economic decisions to ensure that we are returning the budget to surplus.

Mr Simpkins interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Cowan will leave the chamber under the provisions of standing order 94(a).

The member for Cowan then left the chamber.

Mrs Mirabella interjecting—

Order! The Assistant Treasurer has the call. The member for Indi is not assisting herself.

David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer ) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the member for Mitchell to come into this place and brandish a document, a pamphlet that has been distributed in the Lindsay electorate, after the shameful experience of what this country was subjected to during the 2007 election campaign when his cronies out in the Lindsay electorate decided to spread racial hatred in pamphlets—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Assistant Treasurer will return to the question.

David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer ) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When it comes to truth, I will let the facts of the record stand for themselves. We are delivering a strong economy for the Australian people, an economy that will ensure we spread the benefits of the boom so that all Australians get their fair share.

Honourable members interjecting—

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask a supplementary question, Madam Deputy Speaker. I refer to the Assistant Treasurer's answer where he says that he will let the facts stand on their own record. Will the Assistant Treasurer issue a correction pamphlet to his electors apologising for misleading the electors of Lindsay, and correct the record on having delivered a budget surplus?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The Assistant Treasurer has the call and will be heard in silence.

David Bradbury (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer ) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think that it is about time you people gave an apology for distributing that shameful pamphlet. Indeed, it was the Leader of the Opposition and his electoral college, his conference, that had raised funds and he refused to rule out that those funds be used in the distribution of that pamphlet. It is about time he apologised to the Australian people.

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

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker, that was a complete abuse of question time. He was asked a specific question—to correct the record for his misleading statement.

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

Order! The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. There is no point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, it is not the government's responsibility if the opposition asks dorothy dixers.

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

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. Nobody is assisting the chamber at the moment.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to table the document from David Bradbury, Our strong economy: how is it working for you?

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

Leave is not granted.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! The member for Goldstein might be looking seasick in a minute too.