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. Can the Prime Minister confirm how much money he will restore to the foreign aid program after the cabinet that he was part of cut the budget by $11.3 billion?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. The answer—which again she knows is the one she will get—is that any decisions about the foreign aid budget will be made by the cabinet. No Prime Minister is in a position, or should be in a position, to make an off-the-cuff policy decision like that. We are talking about enormous sums of money here. Is this the type of government the Labor Party would run, that you would just have billions of dollars—

Government members: Yes!

Of course it is; it absolutely is—no cabinet process, no proper examination of competing needs. The honourable member has made $18 billion worth of foreign aid commitments, all completely unfunded. The reality is, as the honourable member knows, that if she wants a serious answer, she should ask a serious question. All she is interested in is making an allegation, making a political argument across the dispatch box. That is fine, but it is a complete waste of question time.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Now the honourable member is asking more questions by way of interjection. Ask a substantive question about foreign policy or about foreign aid, ask it of the foreign minister, and you can have an intelligent discussion. But instead we have, with the entire House of Representatives assembled, time being wasted by the honourable member.

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

On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I would rather have an answer than the mansplaining I am getting.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney will resume her seat! Has the Prime Minister completed his answer?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have concluded my answer.