Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister agree with The Australian economics editor Adam Creighton, who says that the government's response to COVID-19 is an act of hysteria because the virus has only led to the deaths of 'quite unwell elderly people'. If not, why is the minister for energy co-hosting a boardroom dinner with Mr Creighton to raise money for the Liberal Party's Eden-Monaro campaign?

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

The Leader of the House?

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order: that's a question about fundraising, which is clearly a political party matter.

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

There were two questions.

Honourable members interjecting—

We're not going to have a ballot on the ruling; I'm just going to make the ruling, okay? There were certainly two questions. The second one, I think, struggles to be in order. I'm happy to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

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

The purpose of the question is to ask whether or not the Prime Minister agrees with the comments that were quoted in the question. The second part of the question is clearly framed at the beginning with 'If not'—so, if the Prime Minister does disagree, why are these sorts of things happening with one of his own ministers?

Mr Robert interjecting—

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

The Minister for Government Services will cease interjecting.

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

Both parts of it go to the same issue as to the extent to which the government disagrees.

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

The Prime Minister isn't responsible for actions ministers take on party activities, so it's really irrelevant whether he agrees or disagrees. But the first part of the question is in order.

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

I don't agree with those comments. What we have done over these many months we have been combating the COVID-19 global pandemic is been conscious right from the start of the need to address both the health challenge and the economic challenge. Now, there are extreme views in this debate. There are more extreme views which say that there is nothing going on here, and there are others who say that more extreme action should be taken in terms of measures. It's a free country, and people can express whatever views they wish on these matters. I'm not seeking to express any judgement against the individual that has been referred to in the question in any way, shape or form. I just happen to have a different point of view—a point of view that has been informed by the government's actions, which shows that we took early, strong and important actions that have both protected lives and protected livelihoods.

Australia stands out around the world as being the leader both on the economic response, as is demonstrated by the OECD figures, and the health response, which has been demonstrated by the much lower death rate in Australia; it's 100 times more in overseas countries. Had we not taken the decision to take action on health, then we would not be in the position today to address the economic opportunities as we come out of this crisis. We are well ahead of where we'd hoped to be. There are different experiences in different countries. The Treasurer just made mention of New Zealand; they went to a full lockdown, and their expected position on their economy is that it will be down 8.9 per cent this year. We didn't go to that extreme, and we're looking at a five per cent reduction. Every country will make its choices. We've made the right choices.