Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, I refer to this report in the Straits Times of Singapore carrying the headline 'Canberra closing door to migrants ahead of election' and the report next to that headline detailing Pauline Hanson's support for the Prime Minister's attack on skilled migrants. Is this is the message you, Prime Minister, were hoping to send to Asia after the release of the government's paper, Australia in the Asian century? (Time expired)

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Banks!

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

To the member's question, first I would seek to confirm that we are talking about the Pauline Hanson who was a preselected Liberal candidate—that Pauline Hanson. I presume that is who we are talking about. We are talking about the Pauline Hanson whom former John Howard refused to condemn month after month after month.

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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition!

Ms O'Dwyer interjecting—

The member for Higgins will leave the chamber under standing order 94A.

The member for Higgins then left the chamber.

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

I presume we are talking about that Pauline Hanson. And I presume I am being asked a question by a man who—what consideration did he give to Australia's reputation around the world when he was minister for immigration? I would ask that question.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. When the change was made to insert the words 'directly relevant' it was meant to make a change. Even on the old definition, the Prime Minister is not being relevant to the question that was asked. I ask you to either sit her down or ask her to directly answer the question as to whether or not this is the message she wants sent to Asia.

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

The member for Mackellar will resume her seat. An answer to a question is based on the entire question.

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

As for the government's policies and what I have announced in the last few weeks, and what was addressed indeed by me and by the minister for immigration in this parliament today, at base I believe that jobs in Australia, in our nation, should first and foremost be available to Australians. Of course Australians are those who are born here and who have made Australia their home, of which I am one—a migrant to this country.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Born here?

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

'And migrants to this country', I just said, thank you very much.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! This is an absolute example of the noise coming from the other side. You cannot hear the question and then you are interjecting about what you do or do not think you are hearing. If you actually allowed the question to proceed in silence, from all sides of the chamber, we might get through and hear some answers.

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

Because the opposition is not listening and is preferring to bellow, let me go through it again. I believe when we are looking at jobs and opportunities in our nation those jobs and opportunities should go to Australians first. They should go to Australians and we should make sure that we are always providing, particularly to our children but to our nation as a whole, the skills and abilities to seize those job opportunities. Even with the world's best training system there will be times when, because of peak demand or very specialised skills, you will need to fill skills shortages from overseas with temporary overseas workers. That will always happen, but I do not believe that a program of temporary overseas workers should be used to substitute for appropriate investment in training and skills—for example, the way in which that happened under the former Howard government in the healthcare system. I do not believe that that should occur.

I also do not believe that, where there are Australian workers with skills and attributes to do the job, they should not get those job opportunities. Our 457 visa system, a system now with more than 100,000 people in it, should be the subject of crackdowns and rigour. We will always aim for that. I know the Leader of the Opposition has an entirely different set of policies and I think he is most decidedly wrong on that. We believe in jobs and this is the day on which we can point to our track record of creating jobs in this country. (Time expired)

Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table a document. I want the parliament to be fully informed and to have a copy of the relevant page of the Straits Times.

Leave not granted.