Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister tell the parliament more about how Saturday was such a ringing endorsement of his government's policies?

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

Again, all I note is the hubris and the arrogance of the Labor Party. Premier Andrews won the election in Victoria, not you. That's who won the election in Victoria. Premier Andrews won the election in Victoria. We have worked with Premier Andrews over the last number of years. We have our differences, but there's no doubt that at the election on the weekend they chose to return the incumbent government of Victoria. I congratulate Premier Andrews on that result. Why wouldn't you, Mr Speaker? That is a significant achievement with an increased majority. In Victoria, unemployment is at 4½ per cent. That is lower than the national average. In Victoria, we have been delivering record investment in infrastructure with the Victorian government.

Opposition Member:

An opposition member interjecting—

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

We have. We have been working with them to achieve that—

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

The Prime Minister will pause. The deputy opposition leader is warned!

Mr Champion interjecting—

Someone had to be first! The member for Wakefield will leave under 94(a).

The member for Wakefield then left the chamber.

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

It was the same when the Premier of Tasmania, Will Hodgman, was re-elected in Tasmania. It was the same when Premier Palaszczuk was re-elected in Queensland. People elected not to change their governments in each of those states. In South Australia they did choose to make the change. What is the Labor Party saying about that at a federal level?

The truth is: if you want to win an election at a federal level—there's no state premier on the ballot. It is for the members who sit in this House. You can't go around relying on the achievements of a state government to prop up the failed policies of federal Labor. At the next election, there will be a choice. There will be a choice between the Liberal and the National parties, who stand for a stronger economy and who have the proven track record on keeping Australians safe; and, on the other side, the opposition—the Labor Party—who want to put $200 billion of higher taxes on people's jobs, savings, incomes and retirement and throw a big, wet blanket on the economy, which puts Medicare, disability services and affordable medicines at risk. There will be a choice at the next election, and it won't be involving any Premier of any of the states. It will be between me and you.