Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that many debts to the Commonwealth accrue interest, will his government apply the same principle and refund victims of the Prime Minister's illegal robodebt scheme in full, including interest?

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I find ironic is that, in the last question about the rorts and corruption in Victoria, those opposite were claiming, 'It's before the courts; we can't possibly speak about it.' We know this is before the courts, but they have the hypocrisy to step up about it. This is extraordinary. Those opposite don't want to talk about what's been happening in Victoria over the last week, hiding behind sub judice, yet they come forward knowing full well this is before the courts, with hearings—

Ms Burney interjecting—

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

The minister will resume his seat. The member for Barton will cease interjecting. The member for Maribyrnong on a point of order?

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a point of order on relevance, Mr Speaker. It's a very straightforward question: when Australians owe the Commonwealth money, they can be charged interest; when the Commonwealth owes hundreds of thousands of robodebt victims money, will they pay interest?

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

I'll just say in ruling on that point of order—and I've made this point before—the minister is entitled to a preamble, as robust as that was. He's a much shorter way into the answer than yesterday. He's not even 30 seconds in. He knows it was a very specific question and he's had his preamble.

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I've got a point of order on hypocrisy and those opposite are covered in it!