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. In June 2014, when asked if he supported the Liberal government's cuts to family tax benefits, the now Prime Minister said:

I support the changes to family payment reform.

Now it appears that the government is abandoning at least part of its unfair cuts to family tax benefits. Prime Minister, why has there been this backdown?

Mr Nikolic interjecting—

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

The member for Bass will cease interjecting.

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

Nothing better illustrates the way in which the Labor Party is unable to break out of the old—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs is warned!

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

dying political discourse of blame and abuse. Here you have a former minister for social services who, I have no doubt, cares very deeply about struggling Australian families and was critical of a set of policy measures that were in our last budget that we could not secure passage for when it was taken to the Senate. She believes that the government has reconsidered those changes and examined ways in which they could be made more acceptable so that they can pass through the parliament. Instead of actually welcoming that, she stands up in the parliament and wants to attack the government for that.

Ms Macklin interjecting—

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

The member for Jagajaga has asked her question.

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

Let me make a couple of points to the honourable member. Firstly, like the honourable member, we understand that our nation's future depends on strong families. We are considering carefully the reaction of other parties, including those in the Senate, to the proposals previously taken. There are a number of measures, as you know, that were introduced as part of the budget that we know are unlikely to pass in their current form. The Minister for Social Services has been working very carefully with his colleagues in the cabinet to ensure that a revised family payments reform package will strike a balance between achieving significant savings while still providing—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

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

The member for Jagajaga will cease interjecting and is warned!

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

sufficient financial support to those families most in need, and that is the object. When the childcare reforms were introduced by the previous minister, now the Treasurer, it was the member for Jagajaga who said, very wisely, showing a keen economic insight, that they will have to be paid for somehow. That is true. They do have to be paid for somehow. The task of the government is to work out the most equitable way in which they can be paid for. That is why revisions are being made, and I have no doubt that if the honourable member seeks further information from the minister she will be obliged with a very comprehensive answer.