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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's plans to Americanise our universities. Given that the Prime Minister is already saddling Australian students with a debt sentence, will the Prime Minister at least rule out applying the GST to university fees or does the conversation that he has asked Australia to have—

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

The member for Lyons!

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

Can I start again, Madam Speaker?

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

No. We have already got half the question on the matter of public importance.

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

Will the Prime Minister rule out applying the GST to university fees—

Government members interjecting —

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

There will be silence on my right! The member for Deakin.

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

Madam Speaker, if I can continue. The noise was just ridiculous.

Honourable members interjecting —

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

The member will resume his seat.

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

We're on the skids, Bill.

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

The Leader of the House will desist. The Leader of the Opposition, to complain about the noise of the House when the noise coming from behind him is a cacophony is somewhat being precious. I could not hear the question, except I could hear what is to be the matter of public importance. However, he may repeat the question.

Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Rankin, while you were speaking, interjected in a way that I think he should withdraw. He reflected on the chair.

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

In that case, he will withdraw.

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

The Leader of the Opposition.

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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's plans to Americanise our universities. Given that the Prime Minister is already saddling Australian students with a debt sentence, will he rule out applying the GST to university fees or does the conversation he has asked Australia to have include applying the GST to university fees?

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

The Leader of the Opposition is claiming, first, that I want to Americanise higher education and, second, that I want to introduce a GST. As we know, the only political party which has recently modelled an increase in the GST is the Labor Party. We know that. And the only political party which has lionised American higher education is the Labor Party, not just the Labor Party but the Leader of the Opposition himself and not in the time of Bob Hawke but just this year. I am truly amazed that the Leader of the Opposition should ask this question. He must be suffering from short-term memory loss, because in July of this year, addressing the New York Academy of Sciences, the Leader of the Opposition said, 'In supporting start-ups, nurturing creativity and rewarding ingenuity, America shows us the way.' America shows us the way. So not only has he been caught out—

Mr Morrison interjecting—

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

The Minister for Immigration will desist.

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

misleading the parliament when it comes to a GST, but now he is caught out misleading the parliament when it comes to who wants to Americanise our institutions. The problem is that this Leader of the Opposition does not know where he stands or what he believes in.