Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that his minority government is consumed by division, dysfunction and chaos, was it a mistake for the current Prime Minister to replace Malcolm Turnbull? And again, today, I ask: why isn't Malcolm Turnbull still the Prime Minister of Australia?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Members on both sides!

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

Two prime ministers, you took down!

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

The Treasurer!

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

You took down two Prime Ministers.

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

The Treasurer! The Prime Minister has the call.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Our government's getting on with the job. Since we were last here in this place, our government has been getting on with the job—the National Drought Summit, the $5 billion droughtproofing fund. Have we heard a whisper from the other side about the drought? Have we had a question from the other side about the drought? No.

Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party, Minister for Jobs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They knocked it.

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

They indeed did knock it. They have indeed questioned its necessity. They even sought to undermine it.

We have announced major water infrastructure projects in Townsville. We have announced major changes to infrastructure and support for our tourism industry down in the Greater Geelong region, down along the Great Ocean Road. We've announced new water fund infrastructure—some half a billion dollars—to droughtproof Australia into the future and ensure that we're meeting the needs of rural and regional Australians.

On top of that, we've announced clear and important plans to ensure that our veterans get the respect and the support that they deserve, whether it's ensuring that they get recognition from businesses all across the country or helping those veterans as they transition from their time in service into employment.

We've announced the Pacific step-up plan, a plan that has ensured that we will continue to work closely with our family in the region to ensure that our interests are pursued within our region. We're working with important partners, whether it's the United States, Japan or New Zealand, on a program that continues to ensure the security of our government's national security agenda and protects the safety of all Australians, protects the interests of Australians and protects the safety and security of our region.

We have announced the Women's Economic Security Package, a package which is giving flexibility to women when it comes to managing their work-life balance and flexibility in how they access paid parental leave. Under this government, female participation in the workforce is at an all-time high and the gender pay gap is at an all-time low. It is this government that has ensured childcare costs are coming down because of the plans and policies we have legislated. It has been almost six years and the opposition is yet to put forward a policy on child care. They have ummed, they've ahhed and they've delivered absolutely nothing.

We have legislated. This is the government that's cutting taxes. This is the government that's backing small business. This is the government that's getting on with the job of securing Australia's economic future, for one simple reason: it's a strong economy that pays for Medicare and it's a strong economy that pays for affordable medicines. The Labor Party found that when they couldn't afford to list affordable medicines, because they couldn't manage a budget. (Time expired)

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

Just before I call the member for Petrie, I say to members on both sides, including the Treasurer: I'm not going to allow constant interjections by members who interject regularly to disrupt proceedings. I'm not going to raise my voice; I'm just going to deal with members. I'm giving them fair warning now. I've mentioned a number of members already, who know they've been mentioned. They paused for about five seconds before resuming interjecting.