Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports that the Treasurer will meet with state governments on Friday to discuss federal demands for state asset sell-offs. Will the Prime Minister rule out attaching conditions to funding that would encourage the privatisation of West Australian assets, including the Mandurah railway line, or our power and water assets?

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

I certainly support efforts by the Treasurer to work with the states to improve the infrastructure of our country. That is what the Treasurer is doing. The Treasurer is working with the states to try and ensure that together the state governments and the Commonwealth government have the assets needed to fund the infrastructure that Australia needs.

We want to ensure that we get the roads, the rail and the ports that this country needs. We want the infrastructure of the 21st century, because I want to be known as the infrastructure Prime Minister. In order for us to be the infrastructure national government, led by the infrastructure Prime Minister, we have to work with the states. Now, if we can help the states—

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

The member for Perth on a point of order?

Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to raise a point of order on the question of relevance. We really want to know about the asset selloff. Which ones are being targeted in Western Australia?

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

The member will resume her seat. I am listening very seriously to the answer given by the Prime Minister. The question was about the meeting being held, and the Prime Minister is addressing what is to be discussed at that meeting.

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

If we can help the states to deploy resources from a lesser priority to a higher priority, that is a very smart thing to do. The resources of this nation, whether they are held by national or state governments, should be optimally deployed. That means rebuilding our infrastructure and unclogging the great economic arteries of this country. That is what this government wants to do. Frankly, if members opposite had any sense whatsoever they would support it.