Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, given that the government is undermining the retirement savings of millions of Australians by watering down consumer protection, given that the government is Americanising universities and condemning students to a debt sentence and with Australian families already struggling to make ends meet, isn't it clear that the government is part of the problem, not the solution?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would advise the Leader of the Opposition that that question is not in order, the way it is phrased, but as the Treasurer is anxious to respond to it I am going to give him the call.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In response to the Leader of the Opposition, the government was the problem and that is why they got rid of you. The government was the problem and that is why they got rid of the Leader of the Opposition and the entire Labor Party mob. They were an insultingly bad government for Australia on every front. They did nothing about higher education and the challenges facing students in Australia. They come in here as hypocrites lecturing us about debt for degrees. They invented debt for degrees. They were the masterclass of debt for degrees. They were the ones who started the HECS plan. They were the ones who introduced university fees. Labor never let us down when it comes to hypocrisy. When it comes to superannuation the Labor Party are writ large as hypocrites. They come in and cry crocodile tears about changes to the increasing compulsory super, but it was in fact the Leader of the Opposition, on 3AW with me, who said that ultimately superannuation—

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You've never backed superannuation

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will desist.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At least they are unhappy about this. He is a little anxious about this. He was on 3AW with me. I remember it quite vividly. He said, 'You know what? Superannuation comes out of the pockets of workers.'

A government member: No.

He did say that! Now he is crying crocodile tears. The workers are getting the money instead of the increase in superannuation.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Mr Giles interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bendigo and the member for Scullin will desist.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not understand what has happened to you since you have gone into opposition. The Leader of the Opposition that we knew when he was in government was preoccupied with the battles within the Labor Party.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're a windbag!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will desist.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

he was preoccupied—

Mr Shorten interjecting—

You are going into a bit of psychobabble, mate. Are you okay? Not okay?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I said the Leader of the Opposition will desist.

Mr Pyne interjecting—

And so will the Leader of the House.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are going to get hysterical laughter—psychobabble followed by hysterical laughter.

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Rankin will leave under 94 (a).

The member for Rankin then left the chamber.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What we have seen from the opposition today is simply pure hypocrisy. We had the member for McMahon ask a question that fundamentally embarrasses the Leader of the Opposition. Then the member for Oxley asked a question about Timbercorp. Who was the minister for Timbercorp at the time of its collapse? The member for McMahon. They are doing in each other with the question time pack. I will tell you what. If I were Bill I would have a closer look at the question time pack tomorrow.