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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services cannot answer basic questions about her legislation in parliament, contradicted the Prime Minister on negative gearing and was in charge of the preparation of the census for two years, and given that the Minister for Justice acts against the government when he is here and when he is not here, what exactly does a minister have to do to get the sack in your government? Is the fact that you cannot move on any of these people, the fact that they are still here, because your leadership is so unstable?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Members will cease interjecting.

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

The honourable member's question reminds many of us how scant and sparse are the pleasures of opposition. We have been getting on with governing. We have been getting on with forging new free trade deals, creating new markets for Australian exporters and creating jobs. We have been creating the circumstances that will see $2¼ billion invested in central and north Queensland. We have seen the ability this week to defend the rights of 60,000 Country Fire Authority volunteers. We have been able to do that. We have been able to stand up for the heroes who stand up and fight for us when nature flings her worst at us—people that Labor abandoned. We defended them and we got that legislation through. We did that because we are in government. We have reduced taxes on middle-income-earning Australians. We have done all those things just this week. What does the Leader of the Opposition have to savour? Some games in the House—a pious amendment was his little win. Well, we will not begrudge him his small pleasures, but we will get on with the job of governing for all Australians.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon has been warned!