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

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Now that the National Party knows that the diesel fuel tax rebate was never on the table, will the Acting Prime Minister finally stand up for regional Australia? Will he oppose Prime Minister Abbott's new petrol tax?

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

Once again, that question is coming very close to being out of order under standing order 100. I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to consider the nature of his questions more carefully. But I will allow it to stand.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a threat to the diesel fuel rebate and there is a threat of higher taxes on diesel and the transport industry, and that threat is Labor. Labor remain committed to imposing a carbon tax on transport fuel. They remain committed to legislating to put a carbon tax on transport fuel—a tax of 7c a litre. Labor would like to add 7c a litre to the cost of fuel to take goods and produce in and out of the country. Labor, your plans are for higher taxes. This government is delivering a budget which not only sets our country on the path to economic prosperity but also implements some substantial expenditure programs which will benefit regional Australia.

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 on relevance. Earlier today another member of the government had to answer whether he supported government policy. Surely the Acting Prime Minister—

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

There is no point of order. The member will resume his seat.

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

Madam Speaker, on the point of order taken by the Manager of Opposition Business, if the questions are going to be technically out of order but, out of the generosity of spirit that you have shown, you allow them to stand but be so broad and simply political rants, the relevance point of order cannot possibly be employed by the opposition.

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

Which is precisely why I said there is no point of order.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The budget that is before the Australian parliament at the present time includes significant measures of particular benefit to regional Australia.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like the petrol tax?

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

The member for Isaacs will desist.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They include a $50 billion infrastructure program; Building the Roads of the 21st Century; highways in regional Australia; substantial expenditure on the Roads to Recovery program; new bridges to be built in regional Australia and in other places; and $100 million for rural research. There are substantial benefits being provided for schools and for hospitals in regional communities, as the funding for these areas ensures the continuation of services outside the capital city.

The government was left with a very, very difficult budget, and we have put together a program and an agenda which delivers for all Australians, including those who live in regional areas. The Nationals are proud to stand with a budget that delivers for regional Australians, as it delivers for all Australians—a budget that will deliver good outcomes for our nation in the years ahead.