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

My question is to the Prime Minister. On 7 December last year in the House, the Prime Minister said the National Reconstruction Fund was up and running. On 15 January the Prime Minister said the NRF had been open for business from November and money was available now. But secret government documents reported in the Australian today reveal the funding application process for the NRF was created only after the Prime Minister made these claims. Why did the Prime Minister deliberately mislead this parliament?

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

The Leader of the House?

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

Mr Speaker, the deputy leader knows full well that there are some statements that can be made only by direct resolution. I put that the question should be out of order completely. That was an eyes-wide-open breach of the standing orders.

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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition knows that that remark wasn't part of the question. I'm just going to ask her to rephrase that last part of the question—to withdraw that part and just rephrase the last part.

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

Why did the Prime Minister deliberately not tell the truth to the parliament?

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

Under the standing orders, you cannot make a statement of—I'm tempted just to rule the question out of order. Withdraw the last part of the question. If it's not in order, it's going to be ruled out.

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

I withdraw. Can the Prime Minister please explain the inconsistency between the two statements he made?

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

The Prime Minister has the call.

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

Thanks for your help, Mr Speaker. I thank the deputy leader for her question. A 'seeking investment' form was available on the NRF website from November. From November the NRF Corporation was in ongoing discussions with a number of businesses about potential investments. The NRF was, by any reasonable definition of the term, open for business and was working with Australian industry. Indeed, by mid-January, over 160—

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

The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Bowman was told explicitly he was on a warning and not to interject, and he is abusing the standing orders. He will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Bowman then left the chamber.

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

By mid-January, over 160 businesses had already engaged with the NRF. Unlike the previous government, this government is getting on with delivering. We believe in industry policy. We believe in a future made in Australia. We support manufacturing, which is why 100,000 increased jobs is the figure when it comes to manufacturing jobs.

We passed this act that was opposed by those opposite and held up for a while by some on the crossbench as well, but eventually we got it passed through both chambers and it is up and running. We passed the act, and we confirmed an investment mandate to help guide how the NRF Corporation should support Australian industry. The NRF board has been appointed. The NRF CEO is already hard at work. The NRF Corporation is already working to secure a manufacturing future for this country. Unlike those opposite, who told the car industry to leave the country, with the consequences that were there—

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

Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has asked her question.

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

as a result of losing not just those jobs but the multiplier that that had an impact on in places like Geelong, in places like Adelaide, in places like Elizabeth—and all the car-components companies that also lost, and the skills that were lost there. We believe in a future made in Australia. We believe that we should be manufacturing solar panels here. We believe we should be manufacturing batteries here. We believe that a future made in Australia is linked directly to our national security, so we're not vulnerable to what happens overseas. That is what we're about. Those opposite continue to just get in the way. They oppose all of these initiatives and then say they haven't happened soon enough!

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

Order! The member for O'Connor is warned. He's had a good go, but he won't have any more lenience shown.