House debates

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

Questions without Notice

Superannuation

2:00 pm

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

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister promised Australians on at least 14 separate occasions not to make any adverse changes to superannuation. Prime Minister, is not delaying the increase to the superannuation guarantee for more than 8½ million Australians an adverse change for the retirement accounts of all Australians?

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

More confected indignation from an opposition which has made itself irrelevant by refusing to accept the mandate this government won at last year's election.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

There will be silence on my left! The question has been asked. The Prime Minister is entitled to be heard and I will have a general warning.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

There are no adverse changes as a result of this because, by delaying the increase in the superannuation guarantee levy, we are keeping more money in workers' pockets. That is exactly what we are doing—keeping more money in workers' pockets. A certain authority, to whom I will come in a moment, said:

… analysis suggests that, over time, superannuation guarantee increases have come out of wages rather than profits—

Who was that, I wonder?

Photo of Joe HockeyJoe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Bill, it's you.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

It was old 'Electricity Bill'. That is who it was.

Mr Hockey interjecting

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Treasurer will desist.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I have to say not only is this government keeping its commitments but also it is doing the right thing by the workers of Australia.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Before I call the honourable member for Corangamite, I said there is a general warning and, if you are in competition to see who is the first to leave, the choice is up to all of you.

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Given the noise that was coming from that side, is there a reason you are only looking over here when you make a comment like that, because that was unbelievable from that side?

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I said it is a general warning. It applies to everybody.