Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann: In a blow-by-blow account of the crisis meeting held with the Prime Minister yesterday, the minister for industrial relations, Kelly O'Dwyer, blamed the government's horror performance in Victoria on the weekend on the government being seen as 'homophobic, anti-women, climate change deniers'. Does the Prime Minister agree with Minister O'Dwyer when she blames the ideological warriors within the Liberal Party for the government's horror result in the Victorian election?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Firstly, I don't accept the premise of the question. As I already informed the Senate yesterday, the Prime Minister had a very good meeting with his Victorian colleagues, as you would expect, after the election in Victoria on the weekend, where the team very constructively reviewed the results and, of course, assessed the lessons to be learnt to ensure that moving forward we continue to improve our performance. Of course, I completely reject the assertion that Senator Collins quoted.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Collins, is there a supplementary question?

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that the minister hasn't answered this question. I will try it another way. Which of these reasons offered in the crisis meeting is correct? A, Liberal senator Jane Hume, who blamed the government's failure to properly fund Australian schools; B, Liberal members for Dunkley and La Trobe, Chris Crewther and Jason Wood, who blamed the government's failure on infrastructure policy; C, Liberal member for Goldstein, Tim Wilson, who blamed the government's failure on energy policy; or, D, all of the above? And try again on the comments by Kelly O'Dwyer. (Time expired)

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Firstly, I reject the opening to the question. I did answer the primary question, in that I completely rejected the assertion that was made. The second point I would make—

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What assertion?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Don't be so negative, Senator Collins!

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, I would ask the minister look again at the question. No assertion was made.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the minister is being directly relevant.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Labor Party decides to be so negative when, on this side of the chamber, we are having positive and constructive conversations, making sure that we move forward, working as the strongest possible, most united, most effective government—

Opposition senators interjecting—

because we are focused on doing the best we can for the Australian people. Under our government the economy is stronger, employment growth is stronger, the budget position is in a stronger and improving position. We are delivering for the Australian people. Under Labor they had stopped listing medicines because they could no longer afford to pay for them. The budget position had deteriorated so much that you could no longer even list important medicines. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Collins, is there a final supplementary question?

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After the member for Chisholm, Julia Banks, made her explosive speech in the House of Representatives three months ago, Mr Morrison assured Australians he was dealing with Ms Banks's concerns. Was yesterday's crisis meeting just as successful as Mr Morrison's attempt to deal with the concerns of the now independent Ms Banks?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I assume that Senator Collins is about to submit her resignation from the Labor Party, because, by her account, it sounds to me as if she pretends that she was inside a Liberal Party meeting between the Prime Minister and Victorian Liberal members and senators. Unless you are telling us that you're about to switch sides—unless you are telling us you want to work with us on making the economy stronger, creating more jobs and repairing the budget—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Collins on a point of order.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I'm being misrepresented. I was listening to the House of Representatives.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Collins, you know that's not a point of order. I will ask the minister to continue.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr President. On this side of the chamber we will not get distracted by the politics of the Labor Party. We will continue to focus on making Australia stronger, making our economy stronger, creating more jobs, getting the budget in the strongest possible position, making sure that our borders are safe and secure and making sure that Australians, today and into the future, have the best possible opportunity to get ahead. We leave the politics to you.