Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The motion before you, Deputy President, is to take note of the answers to questions by coalition senators, but what we've seen today is, sadly, a display of not answering questions that are put to those on the other side. Maybe those in the gallery aren't aware, but today is broadcast day. That little light up there means the Senate is being broadcast on radios right across the country and online. People tuning in and listening to question time today had the opportunity to hear some answers to questions that were asked by well-meaning coalition senators, and what we got were nonanswers, avoiding answering questions. There were questions about what the government will do, and the answers just reflected on what the previous government did. There were questions going to the heart of very serious issues across this country, like the cost of living.

Promises were made before the election that people would see a reduction in their electricity bills. Throughout the election campaign we heard from the government 90-odd times that Australians would see their electricity bills reduce by $275 if this government were elected. The government have walked away from that; they have broken the promise on that commitment that they made. That's why you're hearing nonanswers on that side, because they don't want to admit the fact that they actually told the Australian people a big, fat lie, because they wouldn't actually be able to deliver on it. And they have done nothing to address the cost of living. One of the best ways they could address the cost of living is to reduce spending, but we have seen no measure whatsoever from this government to cut the expenditure of government. That is the sure-fire way of reducing inflation, the sure-fire way of addressing the cost-of-living issues for Australian households. Instead, all this government is doing is leaving it up to the RBA to increase interest rates, ultimately restricting the availability of cash to fund people's expenses. It's hitting people's mortgages. So it's the mortgagees of this country, not the government, that are making the big decisions. That's a real shame, because there are some very serious issues that the government are contending with. But they're actually walking away, rather than facing up to the issues that are before us.

We heard a question today about what the government are going to do in relation to their promise that there would be registered nurse coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week in our aged-care homes. Senator Farrell was asked a very serious question as to whether, in the comments she made yesterday, the Minister for Aged Care was walking back the commitment that was made. Senator Farrell was asked whether or not he stood by that statement. Maybe the minister misspoke. Maybe the minister didn't quite get it right. But, instead of facing up to the scrutiny of that question, the minister avoided it completely.

What we've seen on broadcast day for the Senate is a demonstration of how not to answer questions. This government is proving, quite effectively, to be very artful at breaking promises and dodging questions. The Australian people expect more and deserve more from this government. Those opposite are proving, time and again, to be quite adept at dodging questions and breaking promises, and it's having a real impact on Australian people. It's affecting them, because while you're doing that you're not facing up to things and putting in place measures that might actually help people. We've got a cost-of-living crisis in this country. In arrogantly coming in here and not answering the scrutiny of questions in this place, you're actually saying to the Australian people that all you're interested in is power; that you're only interested in being on that side of the chamber, not in taking your job seriously. Take your job seriously, Labor!