Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. Why did the Treasurer say, in question time yesterday, that retail trade grew at 7.4 per cent over the past year when, in fact, it grew at 5.1 per cent? Why did the Treasurer mislead the House? Was the Treasurer being sloppy or dodgy with economic data?

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

The member for McMahon knows the rules about irony and sarcasm. However, the question can stand and the Treasurer has the call.

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

I welcome that question from the member for McMahon. I will tell you why. He asked me about whether I was sloppy or dodgy with the numbers. The member for McMahon said in 2010—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

How about this? The government—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

Listen, son. You cannot white—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon!

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

Liquid paper is not around anymore, but we still have the words:

… the Government has returned the Budget to surplus three years ahead of schedule and ahead of any other major advanced economy, and the debt and deficit campaign is now exposed for the fraud that it always was.

The Labor government that has not delivered a surplus since Bob Hawke was Prime Minister, the Labor Party that did not deliver a surplus in the lifetime of Wyatt Roy, the member for Longman! The Labor Party last delivered a surplus before he was born. And yet the member for McMahon, who does not know the difference between net debt and gross debt and put it in writing, who does not know the currency of China and who claimed a surplus, has the gall to ask about being sloppy. CommSec, as they admitted, got it wrong. That is why I cited CommSec. But in fact CommSec said that the figure about 2002 goes to New South Wales.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs will desist—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

as will the members for McMahon and Sydney!

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

Remember New South Wales—the state that the member for McMahon comes from?

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

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

The member for Kingsford Smith is warned.

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

In fact, retail sales figures on a trend basis are better than at any time since 2010. Let me see. Who was in government? Who was the Treasurer between 2010 and now—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon is warned.

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

who saw retail sales figures at a lesser rate than occurred under us? Who was that? The member for McMahon. How about that? The words come back on you, old son.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table the Hansard of yesterday and the reports of several economic agencies showing retail trade growth at 5.1 per cent, not 7.4.

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

The member will resume his seat. Firstly, you are not permitted to seek to table a document which is already a public document. I would have thought Hansard was pretty public. As to the second document, is leave granted?

Leave not granted.