Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House how the Morrison government's economic plan and r esponsible fiscal management have been working to ensure that the government lives within its means; and is the Treasurer aware of any alternative plan that would damage the economy?

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

I thank the member for Canning for his question and note that he has served this country with distinction in uniform. When we came to government, unemployment was rising, investment was falling and the budget was deep in the red. Since coming to government we committed to our plan to create more than one million jobs and we've created more than 1½ million jobs. We committed to reduce taxes and we have passed through the parliament more than $300 billion worth of tax cuts. We committed to the Australian people that we would bring the budget back into balance and we've delivered the first balanced budget in 11 years.

But I'm asked: are there any alternative approaches? We know those opposite prefer wellbeing budgets to balanced budgets. And they are led, inspired, by their spiritual leader, the mmmm-member for Rankin. I was thinking yesterday, as the member for Rankin was coming into the chamber—fresh from his ashram deep in the Himalayas, barefoot, robes flowing, incense burning, beads in one hand, wellbeing budget in the other—what would the yoga position be that the member for Rankin would assume?

Mr Tim Wilson interjecting—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

The member for Goldstein. Members on my right. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance, Speaker.

Mr Husic interjecting —

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

The member for Chifley! The question did ask about alternative policies, and I'm listening very closely. I'm just going to point out to the Treasurer that no-one would enter the chamber in the way he says, because it would breach the dress code in the standing orders!

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

As the member for Rankin was approaching the dispatch box, I was thinking: what position would he be assuming to deliver the wellbeing budget? I'm no expert—

An opposition member: Come on, direct relevance!

Mr Littleproud interjecting—

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

The Minister for Agriculture!

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't talk about the economy for one minute because it's so bad.

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

The member for Rankin! The Leader of the Opposition.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker. I'm defying your ruling. If they can't talk about 'the plan', the word for today, because sentences are too hard, he should just sit down.

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. He's not defying my ruling. I don't want to go through all the Hansard history where there have been similar answers to questions on both sides. The Treasurer has the call.

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

So I thought to myself: what position would he be assuming at the dispatch box? Position No. 5, the downward dog? No. Position No. 6, the reclining pigeon? No. No. No. Position No. 7, the twisted deer? But then the vision came to me through the incense. It was position No. 8, the sleeping swan!

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

The Treasurer will remove that prop!

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

Position No. 8, the sleeping swan! Beads in one hand, robes flowing, incense burning—here was the member of Rankin's homily to his mentor, the former member for Lilley. We all know, the Australian people know, a 'wellbeing budget' is just another word for Labor's higher taxes and more debt.

Mr Tim Wilson interjecting—

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The member for Goldstein! The member for Rankin! The member for Goldstein and others! I've mentioned this before. It's disorderly to bash the desks with your hand—that's the only term for it. It's well written up in Practice, and you'll cease doing it.