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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's decision to ambush Australian motorists with a new $2.2 billion petrol tax, with no mandate from the Australian people and no approval by parliament. If the parliament does not pass this measure, the tax collected will need to be refunded. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that every cent of the petrol tax Australian motorists pay over the next 12 months will be returned to motorists and not to oil companies?

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

We have a clear mandate to fix Labor's debt and deficit disaster and that is why we brought down the budget that we did to address Labor's debt and deficit disaster—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon is warned.

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

The measure referred to by the shadow Treasurer was a budget measure. It is going to raise from the average family 40c a week. It is simply putting back in place a measure that the former Hawke government put in place back in the 1980s, and I have got to say that every single cent raised by this measure will be spent on the better roads that Australia so desperately needs. I have concluded the answer.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister has finished his answer.

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

You don't know, do you?

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

I might add, Member for McMahon, that your question was very close to being ruled out of order as it was hypothetical.