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

My question is to the Minister for Communications. The minister has been very busy communicating lately. He has been working overtime, and on this side of the House we concede in very difficult circumstances. Why has the Minister for Communications gone on a media blitz to sell his own credentials rather than to sell this Prime Minister's budget of broken promises?

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

I raise a point of order—

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

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. Again, the strangest of questions. That is not one that relates to anything for which he is responsible in his official capacity. As you know, the standing orders are there to be complied with. But if the Minister for Communications wishes to answer the question he is free to do so.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I never shrink from an opportunity—to remind the Labor Party of the mess that they left this country in. The fact is the great failure of responsibility on the Leader of the Opposition's part. What a reckless man, what a hollow man.

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will desist.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What a hollow opposition full of complaints. What do they offer us: $667 billion of debt. That is what I am reminding people about and we are all reminding people about every day we speak. Had we stuck with your budget, with your plans, this country would sink deeper and deeper into debt. You had no solutions. The Treasurer produces a budget: do you have any alternative plans? Just heckling, just catcalling. What a tragic mob you are. No ideas. They say they do not like cuts. He has been very good with a knife in the past, quite the swordsman, but he is better at putting it into people's backs, isn't he? Always ready for the back cut.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

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

Those on my right will desist. The member for Hindmarsh. There will be silence on my right, including the Leader of the House. The Leader of the House will desist. The member for Grayndler on a point of order, and it had better be on the right point.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is absolutely, Madam Speaker. The minister is halfway through and he has not yet uttered one word in defence of the budget—not one.

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

Strictly according to the standing orders, the question was totally out of order, but the minister has elected to answer the question.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I could not believe the member for Grayndler saying he had not heard anything in defence of the budget. I do not blame him. He has probably got hearing difficulties and all his colleagues shouting and screaming. This is the whole point. This is the message we are all committed to and the single fact of the matter is this: you, the opposition, you, the Labor Party, left this budget in a shocking mess. You were spending more than you were earning and something had to be done.

Mr Watts interjecting—

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

The member for Gellibrand is warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, it is a tough budget. We know it is not popular. We picked that up, we know that. But do you know something: the alternative is this. The alternative is piling up debt, and what a weak and pathetic opposition that has no alternative budget, the first opposition leader in my time in this parliament that could not produce an alternative budget on the budget-in-reply.

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will desist.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just one long whinge and that is the best they can do. What a hopeless opposition. They used to call the opposition the alternative government. Not anymore, no.

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition is warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You could not regard this mob as an alternative. They are just a whingeing, whining, complaining bunch of political screamers. One of the members is often calling me a liar here. One minute I thought she was calling me a lawyer, which, while true, is nonetheless a low blow. But the fact is that we are taking on the reality of the financial condition you left us. We are cleaning up your mess.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

It seems to me that some people are looking for an early mark to get an early plane home.