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

My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Emma Marks is a single mum from the electorate of Flinders who works in retail and has one child in school. In relation to the Prime Minister's family tax benefit changes, Emma writes: 'Please do not take away from the most vulnerable members of our society what little we have that helps us keep our heads above water.' Will the minister reconsider his cuts to the family tax benefit for single parents like Emma?

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is designed to pretend that a single parent—

Mr Mitchell interjecting—

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

The member for McEwen is warned.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

has no benefits under the proposals that we are bringing in. So let me talk you through where there are very significant benefits. Had that single parent written that letter during the time of the Labor government, when they took out $7 billion, $6 billion and $2.5 billion, when they were all stick and no carrot, when they were all snake and no ladder, they would have been correct that there would have been no upside for that parent. But under the proposals that we are bringing there are a range of benefits which can very much engender workforce participation and make that parent better off. Let me explain what they are.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

The member for Sydney will cease interjecting.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That parent who already works will find her child care $30 a week better because she will receive $30 more each week under the childcare package that has been put together. That will be $1,500 a year. That is a very significant increase in the welfare for that person. Indeed, it is a situation where workforce participation for any parent, but that parent particularly, can grow, where they will be enabled and encouraged to increase their participation. Whilst we are phasing down and ending supplements, we will be reinvesting $10 a fortnight back into family tax benefit A. The question is designed to pretend that a parent in that situation does not avail themselves of two streams of family tax benefit: B, paid for the family, which we are ending when the child is 13; and A, where we are reinvesting much of the money, making it $10 better off a fortnight. That adds up in a year. The individual parent can also choose, by virtue of the childcare package, to engage in the workforce or to work more. You are assuming that every person in that situation is perfectly passive and leaves their situation exactly as it is—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

The member for Sydney will cease interjecting.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

but makes no further effort with respect to workforce engagement. The situation that we have proposed is one where, with respect to workforce engagement, we will spend—

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

The minister will resume his seat. The member for Sydney on a point of order. Before I give her the call—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

The Leader of the House will cease interjecting. The member for Sydney on a point of order, but I have made my position on frivolous points of order very clear.

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

Mr Speaker, the point of order is on relevance. This is a real person in a real situation who is really working and really raising a daughter.

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

The minister is being relevant to the question.

Mr Mitchell interjecting—

I remind the member for McEwen that he has been warned.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point about individuals on the ground who are affected by—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

The member for Sydney will cease interjecting. I have asked her on three occasions to cease interjecting. She has asked her question. I have heard her point of order. The member for Sydney is now warned.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whether you are a single parent who receives FTB A or B or a couple who receive FTB A or B, ultimately, the companion packages on child care and the reforms that we are bringing in with FTB have the great potential to make your family more prosperous because they enable your engagement in the workforce, and they do that by reinvesting— (Time expired)