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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Treasurer's commitment today to come up with regional modelling on the Prime Minister's new fuel tax. Why has it taken until today for the government to bother considering how much the Prime Minister's new federal tax will cost regional Australia?

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

I will make three points in response to the Leader of the Opposition. First of all, fuel excise indexation was first introduced by the Labor Party. So how can they be so upset by something that they themselves invented?

The second point I make is that every single cent that is raised by fuel excise indexation will be hypothecated to roads, and that—and this is my third point—is a very good deal for country Australia.

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

I rise on a point of order that concerns relevance. I just asked the Prime Minister one question: why has he not bothered to model the hurt of his fuel tax until today?

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

There is no point of order. The Prime Minister has the call and will return to the question.

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

I was asked about country Australia, and I am explaining how this is a great budget for country Australia, because at long last, as a result of this budget, we duplicate the Pacific Highway, we upgrade the Bruce Highway, we upgrade the Midland Highway, and we build the Toowoomba Range crossing. This is a budget that delivers in spades for country Australia.