Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. A week before the Wentworth by-election, the Prime Minister warned that a hung parliament would cause—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon will pause for a second. The Leader of the House will not interject. I'm not going to keep doing this every day. The member for McMahon can begin his question again.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Prime Minister. A week before the Wentworth by-election, the Prime Minister warned that a hung parliament would cause 'uncertainty in our economy'. Does the Prime Minister stand by this statement? If not, why does the Prime Minister always say one thing before an election and something completely different after the election?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The shadow Treasurer may not be aware that, following the weekend's results, the ANZ consumer confidence index actually fell over the course of the weekend. The ANZ economists attributed that result to the uncertainty that resulted from the election result on the weekend. On comments I made last week, I simply observe that the outcome and the uncertainty of the election on the weekend did produce the result that I indicated it would. That said, in the government that we have been part of, and particularly over the last eight weeks, we have effectively been in the position of a minority government ever since that time. In that time, we have worked constructively with those on the crossbench to deal with legislation and to get measures through. We have passed small business tax cuts. We have passed important legislation to protect our strawberry farmers. We have passed legislation every single day we have been in here, and we have been getting on with the job of government. We will continue to do that.

The business as usual of our government, of getting things done, will continue. That business as usual means more jobs, it means lower taxes, it means lower electricity prices, it means ensuring that we pay for affordable medicines, it means retaining our AAA credit rating and it means a stronger economy that guarantees the essential services that Australians rely on. That's what we're getting on with. The leader of the Labor Party is stuck in the Canberra bubble.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order, members on both sides!

Mr Pyne interjecting—

The Leader of the House will cease interjecting.