Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. During the 2016 election the Prime Minister promised he would deliver 'stable government'. Since the election we have seen coalition backbenchers publicly dictate the Turnbull government's position on superannuation, backpacker tax policy, the banking royal commission and section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Is this the kind of stable government Mr Turnbull had in mind?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Moore, I understand that, coming from the political culture from which you come, the idea that there might be a discussion about policy issues is asserted by you as evidence of instability. Rather, coming from the political tradition from which those on my side of the chamber come—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On my left!

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

we are unafraid of a debate—in fact, we welcome it. We welcome the perspectives of all members of our team. Every last one of them has something to contribute. But a government is judged by the results it achieves. It is judged by the results, and the results are in on this government: record economic growth; a three-year record low unemployment—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On my left!

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

consumer confidence and business confidence at continuing high levels; 450,000 new jobs created since the coalition came to power in September 2013—

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Senator Cameron interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr and Senator Cameron!

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

wages continue to grow faster than the CPI at 1.9 per cent year-on-year to September, compared with CPI of 1.3 per cent; and exports, as I said in answer to my question to your colleague Senator Bilyk, are growing at 9.6 per cent higher than they were a year ago—indeed, the fastest year-on-year growth since the Olympic Games were held in Sydney in the year 2000. That, Senator Moore, is what we mean by successful government. We mean successful and stable government that delivers the results on the economy, delivers the results, as I mentioned in my answer to Senator Fawcett, in relation to national security policy, delivers the results in keeping our borders secure, delivers the results in—(Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Moore, a supplementary question.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe I was being insulted, but I could not hear the answer. I refer to the Senate vote on the disallowance of regulations banning the importation of the Adler A110 shotgun, in which not one National senator voted in support of the Prime Minister's position. Is this the kind of stable or successful government Mr Turnbull had in mind?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Moore, I hope you were not accusing me of insulting you. I was merely pointing out that, in the political culture from which you come, the vigorous discussion of ideas is not regarded as a virtue. But on my side of the chamber, Senator Moore, it most certainly is, because we believe that a vigorous debate produces the best outcomes. Turning to your question—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Pause the clock!

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance and also on the conduct of the Attorney-General. For 30 seconds he has been addressing Senator Moore directly, which is not proper, and he has not dealt with the question.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: talking about the demeanour of the chamber, I can barely hear Senator Brandis. I am pleased to say that Senator Wong, with a bit of help from you and me, is now behaving herself, but because of the rest of them, I simply cannot hear Senator Brandis.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will first of all remind all senators to keep the noise down, especially senators on my left at present. Secondly, on the point of order, Senator Cameron, one part of your point of order was correct—the Attorney-General should direct his remarks to me and not to Senator Moore. On the second point, in relation to relevance, the minister was relevant. In fact, he started addressing the question quite directly. Attorney-General, you are in order, and please address your remarks to the chair, as all senators should.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I will do so. Through you, Mr President, to Senator Moore: the National Firearms Agreement is something that is very, very important. It is supported by state and territory governments of both political persuasions—and it is supported by the Commonwealth government, because we believe that there should be appropriate controls of firearms, and we have delivered on that. Senator Moore, once again, judge a government by its results. On the issues that you raised, the results are in. (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Moore, a final supplementary question.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President; I cannot wait. Contrary to the Prime Minister's commitments, the Deputy Prime Minister has refused to back away from his statement that the 450 gigalitres due under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan did not have a 'hope in Hades' of being delivered. Is this the kind of stable government or results based government Mr Turnbull had in mind?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Senator Moore, through you, Mr President, the government is committed to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Senator Moore, I could not pretend to explain the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to you with the eloquence with which Senator Canavan has explained it on several occasions this week. But I can assure you, Senator Moore, that the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and all members of the government are strongly in support of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

As you know, Senator, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is based on an approach to water management that delivers three objectives: a healthy basin that supports productive industries; confident communities; and a resilient environment. It is the objective of this government and the outcome to which we are working, in collaboration with the states, to achieve all three of those outcomes.