House debates

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Questions without Notice

Taxation

2:38 pm

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister rule out introducing death duties?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! The Acting Prime Minister has the call, and the parliamentary secretary—and he knows who I am talking about—is warned!

2:39 pm

Photo of Wayne SwanWayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

I think that question just demonstrates how far those on the other side of the House will go to run a fear campaign. I refer the shadow minister to the answer that I gave in the House yesterday and the answer I gave the day before, but what I will say is that, when we responded to the Henry report, we ruled that out.

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

We know what you're up to, Swannie!

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for North Sydney is denying his colleagues the call.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Given the Acting Prime Minister's equivocation and refusal to rule out death duties, is he planning—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! The member for Mackellar will resume her seat, and I will have silence! The member for Mackellar will commence her question again.

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

Madam Deputy Speaker, reluctantly I raise a point of order. A supplementary question is meant to arise from the answer, in this case of the Acting Prime Minister. The Acting Prime Minister gave a very clear answer. It is not our—

Mr Hockey interjecting

Mr Dutton interjecting

When they stop yelling—

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes. The member for Dickson is warned!

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

Madam Deputy Speaker, it is not the responsibility of those on this side of the House that those on that side of the House do not listen to the answers. The question has been fully answered. The supplementary—

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will resume his seat.

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

In regard to the point of order—

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I am going to allow the member for Mackellar to start her question again. Her question is in order. She will be heard in silence.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. Given the Acting Prime Minister's refusal to rule out death duties, will he now rule out any increase in income tax to fund his $120 billion great big budget black hole—yes or no?

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

Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: the question is out of order. The question is out of order because the original question was fully answered. The supplementary question refers to an answer that was not given.

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The question is in order. The Acting Prime Minister will answer the question.

2:41 pm

Photo of Wayne SwanWayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

There is no such hole, Deputy Speaker. I made that point yesterday. I made it the day before. I said it was a shoddy piece of journalism in the Financial Review. I know that they will continue to repeat it, but it is wrong.

Secondly, I answered that question before. I said we ruled that matter out in our response to the Henry report. There was one word that I thought everyone on the other side of this House should understand. It is the meaning of the word no.

Photo of Ms Anna BurkeMs Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Herbert is not in his seat. He is going to behave, isn't he!