Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Is the minister aware that in my electorate of Charlton there are 8,132 families and 14,120 children receiving the schoolkids bonus? Can the minister explain to all these families why it is his government's priority to cut $1,200 a year in support for average hardworking Australian families while giving further tax breaks to some of the largest corporations in the world?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Would the honourable member for Charlton—and I apologise for not having had his correct title at hand—say to whom he is asking that question?

Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I said at the start, Madam Speaker—and I will repeat—that my question was to the Minister for Social Services.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. I call the Minister for Social Services.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Charlton for his question. There is a reality that does not seem to have dawned upon the members of the Australian Labor Party. That reality is that their party when in government ran budget deficit after budget deficit after budget deficit. We have now inherited the Bowen black hole. We have a huge debt, which has been expanding every year since—

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I call on the minister to withdraw the phrase he has just used. It is clearly disorderly, clearly offensive and should form no part of the deliberations of this parliament, let alone an answer in question time from a minister.

Honourable members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will have silence. If the reference was to the term 'Bowen black hole', it is not unparliamentary. Indeed, there has been a long history in this place—prior to your entering it—of members who have been treasurers being utilised in that term. I call the minister.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, if I could be further heard on this point: I again suggest that this is offensive and offends in particular against the principle that members should be referred to by their electorates or their titles.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. I call the minister.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will tell you who this is offensive to: it is offensive to the Australian people who are now struggling with the debt that you left them. That is the reality.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is too much noise on my left!

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, my, how sensitive they are when we talk about the deficits and the debt mountain they have left the Australian people. Do not come in here and ask stupid questions.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that there be less cacophony, if we like the term, in the chamber so that the questions and the answers can be heard. I call the member for Lindsay.