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 the Prime Minister to his new tax on petrol—a surprise tax that he did not warn anyone about before the last election, including seniors and pensioners. Why is the Prime Minister forcing Australians to pay more to fill up their cars? And why should Australians pay for this Prime Minister's dishonesty?

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

It is true that in the budget this government resumed fuel excise indexation. That is absolutely correct. It is a Labor tax that this government has resumed because of the revenue situation that we found ourselves in, because of the debt and deficit disaster that we inherited.

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question and will listen to the answer in silence. I remind him there is a general warning. He is not immune from leaving under standing order 94(a).

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

Thanks to fuel excise indexation, the average family will pay about 40c a week more for fuel this year. Obviously, I wish it were otherwise. I really do wish it were otherwise, but the fact is there is no painless way to fix Labor's debt and deficit disaster.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Those on my left!

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

At least under this government Labor's debt and deficit disaster is being fixed. Members opposite refused to admit there was a problem. As far as they were concerned, we could keep borrowing $1 billion a month just to pay the interest on the borrowings indefinitely, and that is the problem. We understand that government cannot continue to live beyond its means. Members opposite think that we can go on forever borrowing, spending, taxing, spending and running up unsustainable debt for our children and our grandchildren to repay.

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

You will put down the props.

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

The government have explained honestly and clearly what we will do to deal with Labor's debt and deficit disaster. If the Leader of the Opposition is to have any political integrity whatsoever, he should now tell us how he will deal with the debt and deficit disaster that he helped to create.