Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister, and I refer her to the Treasurer's statement that certainty is paramount when it comes to the retirement income system. We want people to have confidence that they can save in the way in which they have in the past. To end the uncertainty surrounding superannuation, will the Prime Minister join the coalition and rule out changes to the tax treatment of Australia's 500,000 self-managed superannuation funds?

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

Let me say to the Leader of the National Party: I most certainly will not join with the coalition in attacking the superannuation benefits of low-income Australians. I will not join with the Leader of the Opposition in attacking 2.1 million working women. I will not join with the Leader of the Opposition in attacking more than three million low-income Australians and attacking their retirement savings. We will not do that. And I will not join with the Leader of the Opposition in attacking superannuation for working Australians and preventing contributions from rising from nine to 12 per cent. I want to see working Australians able to retire with a decent retirement income, and I will not join with the Leader of the Opposition in—

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about self-managed funds? Tell us about self-managed super funds.

Opposition members interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will return to the question before the chair.

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

Well, I think people are entitled to the contrast. So on this side: super, from nine to 12. On this side: care and concern for low-income Australians. On this side: a plan to support low-income working women, not hit them with a cut.

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

Speaker, on a point of order: with great respect, how can the Prime Minister be accusing the opposition of hurting low-income superannuation when it was this government that reduced the low-income co-contribution—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat—

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

from $1,500 to $500?

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and he is warned! If you wish to take a point of order on relevance that is one thing, but being at the dispatch box for points of order is not an opportunity to enter into debate.

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

I was asked about stability and certainty in superannuation and I am addressing that question. I can very clearly say to working Australians: under this government they will see their superannuation contributions rise from nine to 12 per cent. I can say to low-income working Australians, disproportionately women, that under this government they will see benefits that assist them with their superannuation. Yes, there are attacks on certainty and stability for those Australians in the superannuation system, and they come from the Leader of the Opposition's plans to attack the superannuation of working people. Why? Because he has always thought superannuation was a con—his words, not mine.

Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I just wanted to clarify whether it was appropriate for the Leader of the House to interfere with parliamentary attendants undertaking their activities and presenting gifts to the member for Griffith.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moncrieff will resume his seat.