Emma Husar (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Shop assistants working in Penrith Plaza had their penalty rates cut on 1 July after this House voted with a majority of just one. Does this Prime Minister acknowledge that his decision to accept his deputy's vote, when it may have been unconstitutional for him to even be here, is having a real impact on every Australian?

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

The honourable member's constituents should be very pleased that our party is in government and not hers. The honourable member's party has no plans for jobs or economic growth at all. The honourable member's party is led by a man who was asked on the ABC, 'What is your plan for economic growth?' He couldn't think of one! And then he thought. He said, 'We're in favour of public transport.' That was his response. He couldn't say, as he used to, in the 'old Bill' days, 'Oh, I'm in favour of cutting business taxes, because—

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

The Prime Minister will refer to members by their correct titles.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker, I will do so. He couldn't do that in his previous incarnation as a minister in the Gillard government, when he used to say: 'I know. Everyone knows!' He said, 'Every student of economic history in Australia'—a great student, he is; he's read all those books, he's very knowledgeable—'knows that the way to create investment is to lower business taxes, and that's why we're doing it.' He gave speech after speech, even speeches that were hitherto unknown—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's under direct relevance. The member for Lindsay has raised an issue of pay cuts for people working at Penrith Plaza, and the Prime Minister should be relevant to it.

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

The Prime Minister has the call.

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

Mr Speaker, the honourable member has asked about pay at Penrith Plaza. Let me tell the honourable member: the driver of economic growth in Penrith and everywhere else in the country is investment. That is what drives jobs—more investment, more jobs. More people have an income; more people go shopping at Penrith Plaza. The idea that a policy-free zone, the Labor Party, dripping with nothing more than envy and malice, is going to deliver jobs in Penrith Plaza or anywhere else is very naive. Envy, bitterness and malice are not going to get people hired in Penrith Plaza. What that needs is investment, confidence and employment. There were 240,000 new jobs over the last year. That's what's being delivered: strong investment—getting stronger—supported by the government and supported by policies that back in growth and will ensure that the constituents of the honourable member will have a greater opportunity under the leadership we're providing than under the envious bitterness of the Labor Party.

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

Just before I call the member for Petrie, I again caution members who are interjecting continuously, particularly those who have been asked to leave under standing order 94(a) on a number of occasions. The member for Griffith is in that category, as is the member for Bruce. I am saying very calmly: even though it's loud, I'm not going to reciprocate with loud responses; I'm going to reciprocate with action to remove them from the chamber. Those who have been removed a number of times can expect more severe action. If that's what they want to happen during question time, I'll be left with no choice.