Stephen Jones (Throsby, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Premier of Queensland has said of the Prime Minister's $80 billion cut to schools and hospitals:

A big red cross is cutting health and education spending. It's not acceptable.

If the Premier of Queensland knows the pain that the government's cuts will cause, why is the Prime Minister asking, 'What is the problem?'

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

I call the honourable Prime Minister, and there will be silence on my left and right!

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

The shadow minister is labouring under a misapprehension.

Ms Macklin interjecting—

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

The member for Jagajaga is warned!

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

I presume he would not be telling a deliberate untruth, but the simple reality is that, every year, school and hospital funding increases under this government. Every year, school and hospital funding increases under this government. Public hospitals: nine per cent this year, nine per cent next year, nine per cent the year after that and six per cent in the final year. And, from memory, for schools funding it is eight per cent this year, eight per cent next year, eight per cent the year after that and four per cent the year after that. So we are continuing to generously fund public schools and public hospitals. In fact, when it comes to public schools in Queensland, we are doing so much better than members opposite. The Leader of the Opposition neglected to put $1.2 billion into the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook—simple truth.

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will desist.

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

He cannot help himself. He is constantly interjecting, but I am afraid he is just embarrassed about the fact that he was not strong enough to keep $1.2 billion in the pre-election fiscal outlook. That is $1.2 billion ripped off from Queensland schools by that Leader of the Opposition and put back by this government.