Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the Albanese government's $240 million commitment to a new stadium being built on Hobart's waterfront. I refer the minister to the question of the Tasmanian Labor leader, Rebecca White, in the Tasmanian parliament today about whether the federal government will be excising from GST calculations this commitment from the federal government. Will you, Minister, guarantee that this will not impact on Tasmania's share of the GST?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have learned a lot from Senator Duniam across the chamber about Tasmanian politics, because he has explained to me, and as this question goes to, he is from the Tasmanian Liberal Party but he doesn't support the Tasmanian Liberal government on the stadium. Labor supports the Tasmanian Liberal government, and Senator Colbeck does support the Tasmanian Liberal government, so it is an interesting situation.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Duniam, on a point of order?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order on relevance. Senator Wong is talking about all sorts of political things, not on what matters to Tasmanians—that is, our GST share. It is serious.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, your question did go to a question asked in the state parliament by another party, so I think Senator Wong is entirely within the confines of your question if she continues to answer the question. If she doesn't, I will draw her to the question. Senator Wong.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Eric wouldn't have made that mistake!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator. What I would say is that obviously we are investing in Tasmania not only in the stadium but in health, housing and infrastructure. For example, we announced recently an additional Medicare urgent care clinic, taking the number of Medicare urgent care clinics to be established in the state to four. We've provided funding for two Shepherd centres in Tassie—one in Hobart, and one in Launceston—and we're investing in key infrastructure.

Unlike Senator Duniam, I'm afraid to say, I don't watch the Tasmanian parliament. Sorry. I have a lot of regard for Ms White. I don't know what the question was, but I will certainly take on—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong. Senator Birmingham.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: Senator Duniam wasn't asking Senator Wong to have some sort of powers of knowledge as to what was happening in the Tasmanian parliament. He referenced that, but he asked a very specific question as to whether the minister would guarantee that the funding of the stadium in Tasmania would not impact on Tasmania's GST share. Minister Wong is representing the Treasurer in this place. It's a question for the Commonwealth Treasurer quite appropriately, and one that Minister Wong should be able to fairly directly address.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Birmingham. I will draw that part of the question to Senator Wong's attention.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I still enjoy getting a lecture from Senator Birmingham about directly addressing questions—

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Or running a budget.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Or running a budget; that's true. We all remember that! GST payments, as you know, Senator, are allocated in accordance with a formula, and there is no change, I understand, that either the coalition or the Labor government has proposed to the way GST allocations are being made. But—

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Some projects have been exempted over the years.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will get what information I can on the specifics of questions asked by a Labor person in the state parliament of Tasmania to assist you, Senator Duniam. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, a first supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Health was mentioned in the primary question, so I again refer to Labor's $240 million commitment to a waterfront stadium, and I ask: can the minister guarantee that tonight's federal budget will include funding for a desperately needed permanent, full-time GP services for Tasmania's Central Highlands community?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

WONG (—) (): I have already indicated that we've recently announced an additional Medicare urgent care clinic for Tasmania which will take the number established in the state to four: Devonport, Launceston and two in Hobart. I would make the point that it is those of us on this side who, in government and in opposition, have always supported Medicare, unlike—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, please resume your seat.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is again on relevance. I asked a very specific question. I didn't ask about urgent care clinics or Medicare. I asked about GP services specifically for the Tasmanian Central Highlands community, and I haven't had a guarantee yet.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do think Senator Wong is being relevant, but I will draw her to—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She so is not!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston! I would remind you to act respectfully and not call out and interject when I am answering a point of order. I will remind her of the specifics of the Highlands region.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Actually, I did answer the question because I said that, if I'm being asked a question about tonight's budget, the senator will have to wait until the budget is announced. But I would also make the point, and it is—

An honourable senator interjecting—

I'll hold you to that! I'll bet you that won't happen. I would make this point—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It used to happen.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm trying to finish the sentence here! The senator raises Medicare. We know who built Medicare. We know who has always supported Medicare. We know— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, a second supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No guarantee on GST and no guarantee on GP services for the Central Highlands. Can the minister confirm that in last year's Labor budget $248.6 million was ripped out of Tasmanian road projects, yet in this year's budget the government has found $240 million for the Hobart stadium? Given Labor took money from road projects in the state with the worst road death toll in the country to fund a stadium, doesn't that show how out of touch with Tasmania's priorities Labor really is?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The advice I have is that, as part of the government's 2022-23 October budget, no projects in Tasmania were cancelled or had funding reduced. The IIP also provided for more than $230 million over 10 years for smaller—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on the advice that Senator Wong—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, that is not a point of order.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is being relevant, thank you. Please resume your seat.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know the truth hurts sometimes, Senator McKenzie. I don't think the statement that the senator made is correct. I would say this: in terms of the needs of Tasmania, I think the assertion that this senator is making is that he understands them better than Senator Colbeck and better than his Liberal Premier. With that, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.