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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his previous answer in which he refused to rule out changing the GST. The night before the election the Prime Minister promised 'no change to the GST'. Given the Prime Minister has broken every other promise he made on the night before the election, when does he intend to break this one?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question asked by the opposition before I allowed to go through without raising a point of order because I was sure the Prime Minister wanted to answer it, but he has answered exactly the same question. It was not in order the first time. It is entirely hypothetical and therefore should be ruled out of order.

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. The two questions deal with different quotes from the Prime Minister. If the Leader of the House has a problem, there are a number of broken promises. He should direct that to the Prime Minister.

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

The last question was facetious and will be ignored by the Prime Minister.

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

I want to assure members opposite that we will certainly keep our commitments but on the subject of the GST, as is well known, any change to the GST is a matter for the states. What I want to say to members opposite is that we should be prepared to look at whether we can make our federation work better. Federation reform, if it is to take place, it has to be owned by the states as much as by the Commonwealth; it has to be something which is participated in by both sides of politics. If it is to be worth doing, it has also got to involve clearer lines of accountability and responsibility; it has got to involve more transparency in government. What I would like to see come out of any reform of the Federation, just as I would like see come from any reform of the tax system, is, overall, a clear commitment right across our country to lower, simpler, fairer taxes.

Ms Macklin interjecting—

That is what we are on about—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

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

The member for Jagajaga is warned!

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

lower, simpler, fairer taxes—and that is what we will deliver. It is consistent with the commitments we made before the election.