Anne Aly (Cowan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Last week the minister managed to insult all of Australia's Pacific neighbours at the same time as twice misleading the parliament. Does this minister take any responsibility for her stumbles and for the role she played in the government's devastating performance on the weekend?

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

That question is just in order.

Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Cowan for her question. As I said in the House last week and as I have repeated numerous times, I did not mislead the parliament. I did not—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am asked a question. I am now responding to the member for Cowan. I did not mislead parliament.

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

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

The member for McEwen is warned.

Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The way the conversation was reported in media was inaccurate. It was inaccurate. But the question you have to ask yourself is why does the Labor Party continue with this line of questioning? Why do they do that? It is because it is a distraction. You know that we on this side have actually got the economy going. You know that Australians are watching us and they know that we have everything under control from an economy perspective. We have heard from the Treasurer today. We know about all the fabulous things that are going in our economy.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hear, hear.

Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's right. That's so good. What have we got? We know that, since 2013, we have created one million jobs. That's something to celebrate. Australians also know that we have the unemployment rate down to five per cent. They are pretty happy about that too. They know that we're looking after the small- to medium-sized businesses and we have cut their taxes. They also know that we've now got a very sensible GST solution. I would have thought the member for Cowan would be cheering that on for Western Australia. I'm pretty happy about that. Are you happy about that?

Mr Frydenberg interjecting—

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

The Treasurer will cease interjecting.

Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

More importantly, the Australian public know that we care about how much money they've got in their pocket. They know that if this lot ever get to sit over here, they'll take every cent.