Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the government do any modelling of the impact of its cuts to families before the 12 May budget, and when will you release that modelling?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Prime Minister for the opportunity to comment on the opposition's modelling and the questions of modelling. On this side of the House we have brought down a budget that does something very important for Australian families. That is, it gives them the choice to be in work. What those opposite do, when the Leader of the Opposition's office is doing modelling, we have learnt today, is look at only one thing: they look at welfare. They do not look at work.

They do not understand that, for families to want to be in work, they need choice. They need the choices that are provided through our Jobs for Families package. That is what we are providing. They need the choices that are provided by the $5.5 billion that is being invested in the jobs and small business packages. They are going to unleash the choices of small business to provide the jobs that those families want.

But those opposite, unlike those on this side, do not believe that the best form of welfare is a job. They believe the best form of welfare is what you get from Centrelink.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's rubbish.

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

I am afraid, Member for Jagajaga, 'that's rubbish' is not a point to make at the dispatch box. You will resume your seat.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Here is some more rubbish.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I will not tolerate that sort of behaviour when a point of order is wanting to be raised at the dispatch box. Resume your seat. The minister has the call.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can sit down now.

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

I do not need any help from the minister in sitting people down, thank you.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In this budget, we have brought down measures which try to encourage into work young people who want to make the choice for a life in work and not a life in welfare. Those opposite want to see the 'Shorten shuttle'—the bus that goes from the school gate to the Centrelink office. That is what they want. The future that they see for Australia is of more welfare and higher taxes.

On this side of the House, we want to see welfare for those who really, really need it, not just for those who think they are entitled to it. Those opposite think an entitlement is what you get from Centrelink. That is what the Leader of the Opposition thinks. But on this side we think that those who have an entitlement are those who earn income to save for their retirement, the sort of income that they want to draw down in their retirement and which the shadow Treasurer wants to tax to within an inch of its life. On that side of the House it is all about higher taxes and more welfare, but not on this side and not in this budget.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table all the letters that I have written to the Prime Minister and the minister asking for the government's modelling of the effect of these cuts.

Leave not granted.