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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Australians know that the Prime Minister does not keep his election promises, but is this budget back-down today proof that he cannot even deliver on his lies?

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

I am sorry; that question is not in order. I will give the honourable member the opportunity to rephrase just the last part. He will not repeat the preamble to the question, simply the last line.

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

Thanks, Madam Speaker. Is this budget back-down today proof that he cannot even deliver his budget?

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

There has been no budget back-down. What there has been is a recasting of a budget measure to make it easier to get some of these budget measures through the Senate.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

There are many people who would like an early mark to get an early plane and go home. That can be assisted; however, your own constituents will not be particularly pleased. We are not going to have a repeat of the noise from yesterday. We are going to have some order and some quiet.

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

I welcome questions on the budget from the Leader of the Opposition because the budget is this government's attempt to sort out the debt and deficit disaster that members opposite left us.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The member for Moreton is warned.

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

Once upon a time, the Leader of the Opposition understood, at least in theory if not in practice, the need for budget responsibility because, as he said to his constituents back in 2012:

… a budget surplus for a strong economy.

That is what he said—'a budget surplus for a strong economy'. The Leader of the Opposition then understood that there had to be a budget surplus if we are to have a strong economy. He was right then; he is wrong now. We must have a budget surplus as quickly as possible if we are to deliver the strong economy and the prosperous Australia that all of us should want.

I should point out to the Leader of the Opposition that the government is in fact calmly and methodically implementing our economic action strategy. The appropriation bills were passed in full, including a $7.6 billion saving from the foreign aid budget.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The member for Wakefield and the member for Moreton, one more utterance and you are both gone.

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

The budget repair levy on high-income earners has passed the Senate. We have successfully abolished the failed mining tax package, including associated spending, which will save $10 billion over the forward estimates, and around $50 billion over the next decade. And today, the House of Representatives has passed, I am pleased to say—thank you, Opposition, for, for once, being a little bit responsible—one of our bills to implement responsible social services measures. This bill alone will deliver $2.7 billion in budget savings. We will take the savings we can get today, and we will go for the rest of the savings tomorrow.

Our budget strategy stands. Australia needs it. We must get back to a surplus as soon as possible. The Leader of the Opposition was right back in 2012 when he said 'a budget surplus for a strong economy'. I just wish he was as responsible today.