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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to comments by Liberal Senator and former parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, Cory Bernardi, who said: 'Playing games with our scientists and research hasn't seemed to have done the government any favours.' Is the Prime Minister's backdown from the shameful attempt to hold 1700 scientists hostage all about the Prime Minister's leadership and nothing about the government?

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

I call the Honourable Prime Minister, but he will ignore the last part of the question.

Opposition members interjecting—

The members for Grayndler and Jagajaga will desist.

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

If the Labor Party thought this was so important, why did they not fund it? This is a program that was introduced by the Howard government. It was a Howard government program which members opposite, when they were in government, refused to fund beyond 2015.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The previous government made no provision for this funding beyond 30 June 2015—

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

There will be silence!

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

What we have done is to restore a cut that members opposite made. This is complete hypocrisy—

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was funded until 2015!

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

The member for Ballarat.

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

Complete hypocrisy from members opposite, who believed in this so much that they did not bother to fund it. We think it is important, and that is why it is being funded now.