Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has chosen to splurge $5½ billion annually on a paid parental leave scheme which will give well-paid executives an extra $75,000 to have a baby. At the same time, the government will delay the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which will hurt 460,000 people with a disability and their families. Prime Minister, don't these choices reflect the government's twisted priorities?

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The opposition has been given great licence with these questions. We understand that most of the cards are stacked on this side of the deck. Although questions sometimes may contain argument, the phraseology of the Leader of the Opposition is clearly not in order in a question. He should not be allowed to ask a question with that phraseology included.

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

Madam Speaker, on a point of order: the Treasurer used the unparliamentary term 'lie' by implying the member for Lilley failed to deliver the truth.

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

Did the Treasurer use that term?

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

I withdraw.

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

The Treasurer will not remain seated. He will come back to the dispatch box and withdraw.

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

I withdraw.

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

On the question of argument in questions, strict interpretation of the standing orders does say there should not be argument. However, traditionally, Speakers have given members some latitude and the standing order has been interpreted rather liberally. I consider, in this week, when we have had so much stress on the question of freedom of speech—particularly coming from the opposition—I will let the question stand.

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

I will do my best to answer both elements of the Leader of the Opposition's question in a straightforward way. We are not delaying the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Leader of the Opposition should not try to put fear into the minds of people with disabilities by suggesting that we are. We are not delaying the paid parental leave scheme. The coalition took that proposal to both the last election and the election before it, and of course we stand by it. It was clearly part of our policy in 2010 and it was clearly part of our policy in 2013. We think that paid parental leave is a workplace entitlement in the same way that sick pay, holiday pay and long service leave are workplace entitlements. Because paid parental leave is a workplace entitlement, it should be paid at the real wage of the relevant worker. Members of the opposition maybe caterwauling, but business will be paying for it through a modest levy to be imposed on the 3,000 largest businesses in our country.