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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the Treasurer's comments on 27 April last year:

I think companies will unleash their balance sheets, and I think consumers will as well if there is a change of government.

Following the capital expenditure figures, which showed a 5.2 per cent decline in the December quarter—the worst results since the global financial crisis—is this yet another example of the government promising one thing before the election and delivering something very different afterwards?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do accept that members opposite are supremely embarrassed about their record in government. That is what I accept.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order: relevance. To assist on direct relevance, during the December quarter they were in government.

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

I do not need assistance, thank you.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is not aware and it is very important that they were in government in the December quarter.

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

There is no point of order. The Prime Minister has the call.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The record of members opposite, quite apart from the 55,000 illegal arrivals by boat, was 200,000 more unemployed people and debt skyrocketing towards $667 billion. We were elected to fix this and fix this we will. We will fix it. We are marching to the rescue of this nation from the wreckage that we inherited from members opposite.

Ms Macklin interjecting—

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

Order! There will be silence on my left. The Prime Minister has the call. The member for Jagajaga will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It suits them now—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Isaacs will remove himself under standing order 94(a).

The member for Isaacs then left the chamber.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to pretend that it was the best government that this country has ever seen. But the fact is the record of members opposite is of 50,000 illegal arrivals by boat, 200,000 extra unemployed people and debt skyrocketing towards $667 billion. We will fix it.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) 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 have already had one on relevance.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But Madam Speaker, unless we have a situation where illegal arrivals are being—

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

Order! The Manager of Opposition Business will remove himself or else resume his seat. The choice is his. The Prime Minister has the call. He has concluded his answer. I call the member for Robertson.