Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Social Services. I refer to the grant of $85,000 made by the former government to the Ted Noffs Foundation for the upgrade of their community facilities. Why is the government ignoring the needs of disadvantaged young people in my electorate with its cuts, forcing them to face the Abbott axe?

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

When this government came to office, it was faced with a stark reality of the situation left by the previous Labor government. Let me put this in stark contrast. In 2007, when the Labor Party came to government, the nation had a net balance of $45 billion—in other words, the nation was in the black. But what happened over six years of Labor government? That $2,100 in the bank that every man, woman and child in Australia had in 2007, what had happened to that by 2013? The reality is, as the Treasurer pointed out earlier, we have something like $217 million of net debt. So instead of every man, woman and child in Australia having the equivalent of $2,100 in the bank, what were they left with after Labor in government? They were left with $12,900 in the red for every man, woman and child in Australia.

Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order: the minister might believe it is all right to avoid answering this question, but the Ted Noffs Foundation, on whose behalf I asked this question, do not!

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

I am sorry, if you are—

Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is under standing order 104: I ask that the minister be directly relevant. Yes or no: will the Ted Noffs Foundation receive the $85,000?

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

I would ask the minister to address the question.

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

In answer to the question: against the background of a Labor Party that was so irresponsible with the finances of this country that it has left us so far in the red, then where expenditure has not been made, where contracts have not been fulfilled, where simply election promises have been made such as what the honourable member is talking about, then we will—

Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

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

You may not have a second point of order on relevance.

Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe the minister is now defying your order to be directly relevant, and I ask you to again draw him to the question.

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

There is no point of order. I again remind the minister to address the question.

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

Against the background of a Labor Party that trashed the finances of Australia, that ran up a huge debt for the people of Australia, where matters had not been contracted, where funds have just been promised in the context of the election campaign, we will do the prudent thing and the prudent thing is to review all of those matters.

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

Before I recognise the member for McMahon, has the minister finished his question? He has. Therefore, there is no point for the point of order as the minister has completed his question.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, to assist the minister, I would like to table the International Monetary Fund report endorsing the previous governments levels of debt.

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

That is not a point of order. The member will resume his seat! The member for McMahon will not abuse the standing orders in that way again. The member for Grayndler on a point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table my press release—

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

That is not a point of order. At this point of time, no.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are allowed to seek leave to table documents, Madam Speaker, with respect. I am allowed to seek leave to table a document.

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

Is leave granted?

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

No.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have not even heard what it is.

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

It doesn't matter. The Leader of the House will resume his seat. The member for Grayndler will state very briefly what it is he wishes to table.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My media release of Wednesday, 28 May 2008, that says we will honour the previous government's commitments—

The SPEAKER: No, you may not read it. The member will resume his seat! There is no point of order; leave is not granted. I would remind the member for Wakefield that he has been warned. Unless he wants to leave us again, he will remember that.