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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Just to be clear, in light of the Prime Minister's earlier answers this question time, can the Prime Minister name one policy from the Liberal government's disastrous 2014 budget that he has changed since he became Prime Minister?

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

The honourable member will be well aware that there are many policies that have been changed or amended or varied since the 2014 budget.

Mrs Griggs interjecting—

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

The member for Solomon.

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

I am coming to the honourable member's specific question. In terms of my own leadership as Prime Minister, a very obvious example is that the federal government is more than ready to finance urban infrastructure—road and rail—and does not discriminate between the two. It would be wrong to say, with respect to the Abbott government, that there was no funding for passenger rail at all—that is not strictly correct—but, broadly speaking, it is fair to say that the position of my distinguished predecessor's administration was not to support urban rail in the same manner as road.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

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

The member for Grayndler.

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

As you can see, that is a very significant shift that has been very much welcomed across Australia. We are looking at urban infrastructure without discriminating as to whether it is road or rail, and I gather members opposite have welcomed that too.

Another factor that again has received greater emphasis since the change of prime ministership is clearly that of innovation and that is a very key priority for us and a significant one. I am sorry that the honourable members opposite are disappointed with the answers but sometimes the truth hurts.