Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Prime Minister. Given it was the previous Labor government that announced the $10 million he referred to in his previous answer and given that both the War Memorial and his own minister in the Senate have confirmed that the $800,000 cut was a decision of this government, why is the Prime Minister breaking his promise to the Australian War Memorial?

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

This really is desperate stuff from members opposite. Let me make it crystal clear that the $800,000 in question was first provided to the Australia War Memorial for the purpose of travelling exhibitions back in 1996 by the Howard government. For five years that money was provided specifically under a particular program. Since 2001, as I am advised, this money has come out of general Australia War Memorial funding, which is $7 million more under this government than it was last year under the members opposite—$7 million more under this government than under those hypocrites opposite. That is the 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

This is an opposition who had one of its members try to play politics with national security earlier today and now this is its response. That is what it is. This is a pathetic game from the Leader of the Opposition to cover up for the fact that one of his members tried to play politics with national security earlier on today and had to be pulled into line.

Ms Owens interjecting—

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

The member for Parramatta is warned.

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

Let me make it absolutely crystal clear: when it comes to the Australian War Memorial no-one supports the War Memorial more than the members of this government.

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

In 2010, Labor's cuts to War Memorial funding—

Mr Shorten interjecting—

The Leader of the Opposition is groaning and bellyaching on the other side of the ministerial table. When he was a minister in a government, his government so cut funding to the War Memorial that it had to consider closing one day week or charging an entry fee or charging parking fees just to make ends meet. And the War Memorial council had to beg and plead just to get a meeting from the then Prime Minister.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

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

The member for Lingiari will withdraw under 94(a).

The member for Lingiari then left the chamber.

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

So Labor's hypocrisy on this issue is simply astounding.