Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the government's backdown on measures to cut the indexation of the age pension and make Australians work until they are 70. Does the government now accept that it needs to go back to the drawing board on its shambolic budget?

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

I love to get questions from the member for Jagajaga on the budget; because, while she does not like all of the budget, there is some of it that she loves. Let me cite the member for Jagajaga on a budget measure:

… young Australians will have to contribute to their development through either learning or earning. Avoiding responsibilities by doing nothing will no longer be an option.

Doing nothing should not be an option for young Australians.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There was not a word of the question that is relevant to the answer the Prime Minister is giving—

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

There is no point of order. The member will resume his seat. The question had its usual rhetoric about the need to go back to the drawing board and about budget. The Prime Minister is very relevant to the question.

Ms Butler interjecting—

And the member for Griffith is warned!

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

I was asked about the budget, I am answering about the budget, and a very important budget measure is a measure that has been strongly supported on numerous occasions by none other than the member for Jagajaga. And the House deserves to hear what the member for Jagajaga thinks—

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Another lie!

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

The member for Sydney will desist and withdraw.

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

about learning or earning. She said:

We want all young Australians climbing the ladder of opportunity, not languishing on unemployment benefits.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

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

The member is withdrawing. Resume your seat.

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

I regret the fact that, on some issues, the member for Jagajaga feels unable to give the government her full support, but I welcome the full support that she has given to the government's learning or earning measure.

Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline how the budget will boost growth and improve productivity? How will investment in productivity-enhancing infrastructure help my constituents in Corangamite?

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Corangamite for her question. I note her very strong support for the announcement today by the Prime Minister and the Premier of Victoria of the development of the East West Link. That is a great initiative that the member for Corangamite supports, because the member for Corangamite actually wants to deliver 6,700 jobs. She wants to help to abolish the impact of 23 sets of traffic lights, and she wants to ensure that 100,000 vehicles will save around 20 minutes each way, each day, through the East West Link. So the member for Corangamite supports the East West Link, the member for Corio opposes the East West Link, and the fundamental point is that we are determined to deliver the infrastructure—

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

The member for Wakefield will remove himself under 94(a).

The member for Wakefield then left the chamber.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that is going to build a stronger and more productive economy. As the infrastructure Prime Minister said: we are determined to lay down plans and deliver the infrastructure that helps to build a stronger Australian economy. That is what we are focused on: a stronger Australian economy. Only through a stronger Australian economy, by building the infrastructure of the 21st century, will we create the economic growth and deliver the jobs that are going to go to the people who need that security associated with certainty of jobs and certainty of income.

It is hugely important that the Australian people understand that whilst we have the biggest infrastructure program in Australia's history—the equivalent of building eight new Snowy Mountains schemes in less than a decade—we are delivering and the Labor Party is opposing. How disappointing that must be. On every aspect, the Labor Party is opposing. Once upon a time, they actually supported the East West Link. The now Leader of the Opposition actually put in not one but two submissions supporting the East West Link, but now that the Labor Party are in opposition they are opposing it all. They are opposing infrastructure, they are opposing our asset recycling initiative. I simply refer to the comments today the Chief Executive of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, who said in relation to their latest infrastructure report: 'These figures show in black and white why Australia's governments must get on with asset sales, using the proceeds to invest in infrastructure projects.'

We have an economic plan. Our economic plan delivers more jobs, better infrastructure and greater economic certainty for everyday Australians.