John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. If the government is serious about funding its $120 billion great big budget black hole and cutting back on waste, why has the government handed—

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

Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Up to this point, none of that is in order; it is pure argument, and it is not true.

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

The member for Bennelong will commence his question again without the introduction of the argument.

Mr Hockey interjecting—

The member for North Sydney does not get to determine—

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

Madam Deputy Speaker, I raise a point of order. With the greatest respect, the government has been talking about things that the opposition have never said, in their answers and in their questions for the last five years. If we cannot talk about the $120 billion great big budget black hole, then that is a complete double standard.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I have allowed other questions that have not begun—you need to listen more carefully, occasionally—with the argument. Perhaps if you could commence the question with the question and then go on to the rhetorical parts, we would have the question.

John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Why has the government handed $72,000 to the Auburn Community Development Network to host an 'enviro tea salon' and a 'weaving workshop' to promote the carbon tax if the government is serious about funding its $120 billion great big budget black hole?

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The last part of the question was out of order. The Acting Prime Minister has the call, and if the opposition was serious about question time they would actually allow an answer.

Opposition members interjecting—

All I meant was silence—standing order 65(b). All I am referring to is the level of noise. I cannot actually hear. So, therefore, you could not possibly hear an answer.

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

This government is very serious about fiscal policy. And we have proved that, every year that we have been in government. We have put in place a fiscal policy which has had the big tick from the OECD, from the World Bank, from the IMF and, most particularly, from the rating agencies. We have a AAA, gold-plated rating from the three major rating agencies, for the first time in our history—something not achieved by those on the other side of the House. That is the first time in our history we have had that from the three major rating agencies globally. And why do we have that? Because, firstly, we took the responsible steps during the global financial crisis to stimulate our economy and to support jobs and families—understanding, based on Labor values, that we would protect people from the ravages of a global recession, because we understand what unemployment means to people. We understand what it means to dignity. We understand what it means to communities. We understand all of these things because they are based on our values and our sound policies. And when we did that we were opposed by everyone opposite; the Leader of the Opposition slept through the critical debate that saved Australia from the global recession. At the same time that we did that, we put in place the fiscal policy to bring our budget back to surplus over time and to put in place a set of fiscal rules—

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The question was about the weaving workshop and the tea salon.

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

The member for Cowper will resume his seat. The Acting Prime Minister has the call.

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

It was a question about fiscal policy, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I am answering it directly. Nothing could be more important to the peace of mind of the Australian people than a very sound fiscal policy. But that is not understood by those opposite.

The shadow Treasurer admitted on morning television that there was a $70 billion crater in his budget bottom line. He said it on TV, sitting beside the environment minister, and now he claims it did not happen. For the past two years this country has had to suffer the Leader of the Opposition going from shop to shop and town to town talking doom and gloom, talking our economy down and talking up a horror show wherever he has gone. But he has gone missing in action for the past week. He has been nowhere to be found for the past week. All we have had from the Leader of the Opposition for the past week is radio silence. After his interview with Lisa Wilkinson on Friday, he retreated. Perhaps there were things in his past that he did not want to talk about. Perhaps he was deeply worried about the political implications of what is going on in New South Wales and in Victoria.

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

Order! The Acting Prime Minister will return to the question.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker: this would be as relevant as talking about the vandalism of an electorate office in 1996. If that is not relevant, how can this possibly be?

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

As the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was making her way to the dispatch box, I was already asking the Acting Prime Minister to return to the question.

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

I am talking about the importance and seriousness of fiscal policy. Those on that side of the House do not have one and they are unfit for high office.

John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to table an article from the Financial Review detailing the $120 billion black hole.

Mr Mitchell interjecting—

Leave not granted.

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

I table the full list of Queensland Public Service redundancies so that those opposite can see where people are being sacked.

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker: the member for McEwen made a highly inappropriate comment and he should withdraw.

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

The member for McEwen will withdraw.

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

I thank the member for McEwen.

Mr Tony Smith interjecting—

Order! The member for Casey is not assisting the dignity of this parliament. Maybe I will send all the emails I get at the end of question time to you all and you can reflect on how the public view your behaviour.