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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Before the election, the Prime Minister promised Australians that the coalition would support the royal commission into child sex abuse. The Prime Minister has broken this promise by cutting over $14 million from the budget for this royal commission. How does the Prime Minister justify this heartless cut? Will the Prime Minister now reverse this decision?

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

There has been no cut.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs will desist!

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

It is quite common for an underspend in one area of a portfolio to be spent in another area of the portfolio. The government has budgeted $377 million—let me repeat that: the government has budgeted $377 million—for this royal commission, until the middle of 2016, because we want this commission to do its work. I would be fairly confident that by the time it is finished this will be well and truly the best funded royal commission in Australia's history. And it should be, because this is an abhorrent crime. It is deplored by this government—and indeed by all members of this House—and the royal commission should be supported to get on and do its job, and it will be by this government.