Julia Banks (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister advise the House how company tax cuts will assist the defence industry and encourage the creation of more and better-paid jobs? Why is it important to have a consistent approach to policy?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Chisholm for her question. As the member for Chisolm well knows, the Turnbull government's support for defence industry extends right through to research and development, for example, through the Defence Innovation Hub. In January I announced grants of about $13½ million to five different companies through the Defence Innovation Hub. One of those was Daronmont Technologies, in the member for Chisholm's electorate, which received $8 million to help create a prototype radar capability for the Australian Defence Force.

The government is supporting defence industry in many different ways, one of which is research and development. We're also supporting defence industries in Australia through things like corporate tax cuts—by lowering the company tax rate in order to give businesses the chance to invest in their own businesses, to create jobs, to create growth and to create higher wages. One economic guru, back in 2012, said:

As Australia is buffeted by the economic affairs overseas, we understand that lowering corporate tax assists the creation of jobs. And what can be more important in this country than the creation of jobs?

Does that sound familiar, Bill?

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

The Leader of the House will refer to members by their correct titles.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I apologise. I will refer to the Leader of the Opposition—

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

And you're warned!

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I accept the warning.

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

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. I'm going to remind him again of the use of correct titles, and it really doesn't bother me whether he accepts the warning or not. He's warned!

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition would know those words because he spoke them himself in 2012. What we've seen from the Leader of the Opposition is a complete inability to maintain a consistency to policy development throughout his political career. He is well known for his policy elasticity, but this stands in stark contrast to the member for Grayndler. One of his gauleiters was at work in The Australian today. He said—and I had better use his correct title—'The member for Grayndler's greatest strength is he is the member for Grayndler.' In other words, the member for Grayndler has always been of the Left and he's never made any pretence about it. I was reminded of those scenes in The West Wing when the President's advisers used to say, 'Let Bartlet be Bartlet.' Imagine if the Leader of the Opposition's advisers said to the Leader of the Opposition, 'Let the Leader of the Opposition be the Leader of the Opposition.' The reality is the Leader of the Opposition wouldn't know which one he was going to be. He wouldn't actually recognise himself because he's changed sides so often. He's had so many policy positions. He's been on so many different sides of the Labor Party. He wouldn't know how to let Shorten be Shorten.

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

You'll need to come to the dispatch box and withdraw.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just briefly, last year there became a pattern of government ministers saying things they knew were out of order for the purpose of getting a grab up, and then withdrawing and sitting down as though it was the first time they'd ever heard that that was a mistake. I simply ask that this year it not be allowed to be repeated.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

From you of all people!

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

The Minister for Health will cease interjecting. He's not assisting. I thank the Manager of Opposition Business for his point of order. I think that the point is well made and I think the Leader of the House knows he's right at the edge of the cliff.