Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Leader of the House. What has been the Albanese Labor government's approach to passing its agenda through the parliament, and what approaches has the government rejected?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Pearce for the question. We've now completed 50 sitting days, and, in that time, we have had a different approach to our predecessors, one of whom was the previous member for Pearce, who had been a Leader of the House. One of the big changes is that we debate legislation without shutting people down. Over those 50 sitting days, we've had more than 2,000 speeches on legislation. Over the same time period, that is 60 hours of additional debate on legislation compared to what happened opposite. The 60-hour figure is a convenient one, because they've got a 60-hour statistic of their own. Their statistic is they spent 60 hours in divisions voting whether the member should not be heard further or whether the question should be put. When I was asked a similar question at the end of last year, I was able to report that there had been no case when anyone had moved that the member be heard no further. It used to be a staple for leaders of the House, including the one who is now Leader of the Opposition. But last week the record got smashed. Who moved that the members not be heard further? Those over there! Even in opposition, they are still addicted to silencing debate.

This morning there weren't many people in the chamber, but we had a standing orders debate. In the standing orders debate the Manager of Opposition Business referred to the right of members—like a democratic right—to be able to move that someone else not be able to make a sound. We've all seen movies where someone gets told, 'You have the right to be silent.' According to them, you have the right to silence everybody else—that's their approach. We have had these debates where the Leader of the Opposition, when he was Leader of the House, wanted to shut down debate. Now, in his next job, he wants to keep shutting down debate. There's a similar parity with his predecessor, the former member for Pearce—when he was Leader of the House he wanted to back Clive Palmer; now he wants to be employed by Clive Palmer. It has all continued. But in that time—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The leader will pause. I will hear from Deputy Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance. Mr Speaker, you might not like it, but this government's priorities are totally warped.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the Deputy Leader of the Opposition knows what's coming. As a result of the abuse of standing orders, she will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Farrer then left the chamber.

The Leader of the House will continue for the remainder of the time.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As a result of that, our aged-care reforms are now law. Paid family and domestic violence leave—now law. The National Anti-Corruption Commission—now law. The electric vehicles tax discount—now law. Jobs and Skills Australia—now law. Cheaper medicines—now law. Cheaper child care—now law. Getting wages moving—now law. The climate change targets and the safeguard reforms—now law. Improved paid parental leave—now law. The National Reconstruction Fund—now law, with those opposite saying no.

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members banging on desks is highly disorderly. The Prime Minister has the call.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! Members on my left and right—I know it's the last day, but can everyone pause so I can hear from the Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I ask further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.