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Thursday, 12 February 2009
Page: 1297

Mr RUDD (Prime Minister) (1:01 PM) —On indulgence: today the government, together with other members of the parliament concerned about the national interest, joined together to ensure Australia will not sit back and wait and see what happens with the global economic recession. Today the government and other members of the parliament concerned about the national interest joined together to fight the global economic recession.

Mr Abbott —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This is not the kind of speech which should be made on indulgence.

Government members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! Those on my right are not assisting.

Mr Albanese —Mr Speaker, on the point of order moved by the former Leader of the House, it was felt in consultation that took place with the opposition that it was appropriate that there be a report back to the House of Representatives about the nation building and jobs package. It is appropriate that this House be treated with respect, hence you actually agreed with this process and agreed that it would be appropriate that the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition be given equal time to report to this House.

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Banks and the member for Flinders will get their early flights, if they wish. On the point of order, my attitude in giving indulgence was on the basis that it suited the convenience of the House.

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Regrettably for those who interject upon me, which is pretty far outside the standing orders, I have to be the judge of that. On the basis that it has been agreed that I will be able to give indulgence to the Leader of the Opposition of some similar magnitude and therefore of some similar discussion, that will have to be the risk that the chair takes in trying to keep order. But it is on that basis that I am proceeding.

Mr RUDD —Today the government and other members of the parliament concerned about the national interest joined together to ensure that Australia will not sit back and wait and see what happens with the global economic recession. Today the government an other members of the parliament concerned about the national interest joined together to fight the global economic recession. Today the government and other members of parliament put their differences aside to act strongly and decisively in the national interest to support jobs, not stand idly by while the global economic recession wreaks havoc; to support families, not leave them exposed to the full force of the global economic recession; to support small business, not turn a blind eye to their pain; to drive the biggest school modernisation plan in Australia’s history, not pretend that those schools do not need help; and to build social housing for our poorest neighbours, not leave them to fend for themselves. In all these things, the government have acted to support jobs while others have argued we should do nothing to support jobs.

The most irresponsible thing to do today, with the worst global economic recession since the 1930s staring us in the face, would be to do nothing and to play politics—to play politics at a time when our nation needs us to rise above politics; to play politics at a time when we are required to put our nation first and our own political interests last. But, with the responsible actions of the minor parties and the Independents both in the House and in the Senate, we have avoided that in this parliament today. I thank them for their cooperation.

Why is the government committed to the passage of this nation-building plan? Australia cannot resist the international economic forces, and we cannot defy the effects of the downturn in our own region. But, through decisive government action, we can reduce the impact of the global recession on Australian families, jobs and small businesses. Treasury estimates that initiatives in the Nation Building and Jobs Plan will provide a boost to economic growth of around half a percentage point of GDP in 2008-09 and around three-quarters to one per cent of GDP in 2009-10. Treasury also estimates that today’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan will support up to 90,000 jobs in each of 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Without parliament’s support for this plan, growth would be slower and unemployment would be higher. Therefore, the government’s nation-building plan aims to do two things: first, to support economic stimulus in the short term to do everything possible to support growth and jobs now; and, second, to do so wherever possible by investing in school infrastructure, modernising our schools and providing energy-efficient housing and the other infrastructure Australia needs for the 21st century. That is the government strategy.

The government’s nation-building plan delivers for the nation and it delivers for local communities. The $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution plan provides our kids with 21st century schools if they are stuck in cramped, decaying classrooms designed for a generation of Australian children that left school many years ago. I would ask honourable members here assembled to listen to what local schools are saying about the plan, which the government has voted for and which the Liberal and National parties have voted against. The Principal of Merri Creek Primary School says:

The Principal of Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School writes:

Similar messages are emerging from the 7½ thousand primary schools right across Australia, in parts of our country represented by members on this side of the House and parts of the country represented by members on that side of the House. The difference, however, is this: we on this side of the House, together with the Independents, have voted in support of the biggest school modernisation plan in Australia’s history, while the Liberals and the Nationals have voted against it.

In passing this bill, the parliament is also helping to tackle the crisis in affordable housing. Here is what some people have said about this part of the program. I refer here to comments from Mr Gary Mallard, a public housing tenant in Bega:

Councillor Frank O’Connor, the mayor of Port Phillip, writes:

Then there is the Defence housing element and what will be delivered through the government’s plan on this. I will be particularly interested to see how the member for Herbert explains this to the good people of Townsville. This is from the wife of a member of the Australian Defence Force based in Darwin:

That was from a wife of a member of the Australian Defence Force.

Mr Sidebottom interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Braddon will get a thorn if he is not very careful. I advise the House that I have a booking on a seven o’ clock plane, so I have got plenty of time.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I refer you to pages 484 and 485 of the House of Representatives Practice, dealing with indulgence. Set out on those pages is the long list of things for which indulgence is granted and the fact that the right to grant that indulgence is exclusively yours to give—not the House’s right, but yours. It also prescribes the areas where precedents have been set for the granting of indulgence—for instance:

… the … Leader of the Opposition to congratulate athletes representing Australia—

or:

or:

or:

These are all very procedural matters and I put it to you, Mr Speaker, that this is not a speech on indulgence. This is a speech of a highly political character which should be dealt with in an ordinary matter of business. It is quite improper for the Prime Minister to give us this diatribe by way of indulgence.

The SPEAKER —I have noted the point of order and I have given the indulgence. I indicated earlier that I understand I have taken a great risk, but I say to the House that I do not see this in any way as a precedent—not in any way. I embarked upon this procedure with an understanding that some people in the chamber knew what was happening. I think that members ought to acknowledge that sometimes people are out of loops.

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! Some of the members who are laughing loudest should realise that probably they were out of this loop as well. I admit that I was. The indulgence has been granted. As I have said, I understand that, with the granting of indulgence to the Prime Minister, subsequently I will grant indulgence to the Leader of the Opposition and it will be for subject matter of a similar standard. The Leader of the Opposition should not take that comment too directly.

Mr RUDD —Then there is the issue of the installation of ceiling insulation. Peter Ruz of Fletcher Insulation has said:

Mr Ray Thompson from Bradford Insulation said that their new Brisbane plant would move to 24/7 production. He said:

I would like to repeat for the benefit of honourable members the observations last night of the member for Lyne concerning his own area. I will quote what the honourable member said:

I thank the member for Lyne for his contribution to the debate last night.

The government’s nation-building plan also deals with the challenges faced by small business, and here I cite Mr Glenn Elim of Animal World Pet Motel in Cornubia in Queensland. Because of the initiatives the government has announced, most particularly the investment tax break, he is looking to make further investments in business that will see even stronger growth as the economy recovers. Mr Elim says that the investments that were planned for the future are being brought forward because of the government’s package.

On the question of not just small business but community infrastructure as well, I would draw honourable members’ attention to the desperate need for the refreshing and upgrading of infrastructure of local communities around Australia. With the passing of this bill the government is now bringing forward and boosting capital expenditure in regional areas to improve safety for motorists and passengers around the country. I have here a comment from the Mayor of North Sydney Council, Councillor McCaffery, who has stated, ‘Not only will it provide safer communities but it should help to maintain local jobs.’ The Mayor of Fraser Coast Regional Council has also made additional remarks.

The question of the tax bonuses has attracted considerable comment in the debate in this chamber, and also contributions from individual members of the public who are doing it tough in the current economic circumstances and are looking for a helping hand from government to assist them through the impact of this crisis.

These are the elements of the government’s nation-building plan. These are the elements which have attracted widespread support from across the Australian community—members of the community in individual towns and centres represented by those opposite, by government members and by Independent members as well.

Let us consider also why this bill has been passed. It has been passed with the support of every single member of this House and the Senate except for members of the Liberal Party and the National Party. Every government member of parliament has supported this nation-building plan. Every minor party senator has supported this nation-building plan. Every Independent member of this House has supported this nation-building plan. Every Independent senator has supported this nation-building plan. Everybody in this parliament has got behind this nation-building plan except for members of the Liberal Party and the National Party.

I would like to thank each of those members who have supported this bill in the House and in the Senate. I would like to thank government members for their support and their statements explaining the reasons for that support. I would especially like to thank the Independent members who spoke in the House last night with clarity, with honesty and with eloquence. I would like to thank the member for Lyne, the member for New England and the member for Kennedy—all three members knowing what it is like to stand up for their local communities and to stand up for the Australian national interest. Nobody listening to the contributions last night from the Independent senators could doubt that they made their decisions because they concluded that it was in the interests of the people they represent in this place and, from the Independent members as well, the communities of the mid-North Coast of New South Wales, the communities of New England and those of North Queensland. I express my appreciation to Senator Brown in the Senate, who took a mature and cooperative approach to this legislation—unlike the Liberals, who did not. The Independent members did not think that this legislation was perfect but they were prepared to work together to pass it. I would also like to thank Senator Fielding. We understand his genuine concern for the unemployed and for his home state of Victoria. I would also like to thank Senator Xenophon. We understand his passionate concern for the Murray-Darling. The government shares his concern. The Murray-Darling is the lifeblood of so many inland communities in the south of this great continent. We will continue to work with him in the future on this great national challenge. The government understands the urgency of the economic challenges that Australia faces. The Liberal Party does not, because, as supporters of extreme capitalism, not only do they refuse to accept any responsibility—

Mr Hockey —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. When we came to an agreement with the government, it was on the basis that the Prime Minister would make a short statement to parliament, there would be a response from the Leader of the Opposition, and then the House would adjourn. We now find that the government has held back the House of Representatives to simply give the Prime Minister a platform to play politics from. Mr Speaker, this is very testing for the parliament—on the indulgence of the parliament, the Prime Minister is simply going on an ideological rant, or else he is simply tabling a whole lot of constituent emails.

The SPEAKER —Order! The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. What is actually happening—not the circumstances within which it is happening—is exceptional, and from the point of view of this occupant of the chair this procedure will not be used again.

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! Having said that, I think it would suit the convenience of the House if we went through this quietly. The Prime Minister has the call. I would suggest that if the Prime Minister could wind his remarks up, it would also suit the convenience of the House.

Mr RUDD —Mr Speaker, the government—

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! But he cannot wind them up if there are continual interjections.

Mr RUDD —The government understands the urgency of the economic challenge that we face. The International Monetary Fund understands the challenge that we face. The Reserve Bank, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia and the Business Council of Australia understand the challenge we face. The challenges we face are understood by the Independent members of this place and the minor parties. The only parties who do not understand the economic challenges we face are the Liberal and National parties.

Let us be absolutely clear about what is at stake here. We have embarked upon a course of action and a strategy to see Australia through this national economic crisis, and we are determined to do so.

Mr Dutton —This is outrageous, Mr Speaker.

Mr RUDD —What the Liberal Party has done is to seek to vote down the biggest investment that this country has seen in our schools.

Mr Dutton —He is defying your ruling.

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Dickson is not assisting.

Mr RUDD —I noticed most recently the Manager of Opposition Business on his feet contesting this fact. When the Manager of Opposition Business said today, in relation to school investment, ‘Well, let me tell you: we wouldn’t be spending $14 billion dollars—

The SPEAKER —Order! The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Mr Hockey —Mr Speaker, is this truly appropriate for an indulgence from the Prime Minister, after the House of Representatives has been held back for hours after the Senate has completed its business? Is this truly the appropriate way to treat the parliament?

The SPEAKER —Order! The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. There is no point of order. The indulgence is for the chair to give.

Mr RUDD —Thank you, Mr Speaker. I refer explicitly to the member for North Sydney, who has just intervened, because today he said: ‘Well, let me tell you, we wouldn’t be spending $14 billion on school halls’. He goes on to say: ‘That is just ridiculous’. This government has a different view of the priority attached to education.

Mr Dutton interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Dickson might think he is assisting, but he is not.

Mr RUDD —The other important contribution to this debate and the matters that have just been returned from the Senate is as follows. When questioned this morning about the opposition’s posture on the current stimulus proposal which is before the parliament, the Manager of Opposition Business was asked, ‘Is there any prospect of a change to the opposition’s position on the stimulus package?’, and what was the answer from the Manager of Opposition Business? ‘Well, no, there isn’t.’ In other words, the predisposition to negotiate, as they stated last night, was clearly underlined again in the statement of unequivocal rejection by the Liberal Party this morning.

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Dickson on a point of order. He will have to search for a point of order, though.

Mr Dutton —I am appealing to your spirit of indulgence, Mr Speaker. About six minutes ago you gave the Prime Minister a direction to wind it up. He is defying—

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Dickson will resume his seat.

Mr Dutton interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Dickson will resume his seat!

Mr RUDD —Thank you, Mr Speaker. This government will continue to act in the national interest. This government will continue to govern in the national interest—for a generation of kids in our schools, who in years to come will have access to 21st century libraries, multipurpose halls and other facilities; for struggling families and older people, who will have access to affordable social housing; for families, who will be able to cut their electricity bills with ceiling insulation; for regional communities around Australia, who will benefit from new community facilities; for small businesses, who will have—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Mr Haase interjecting—

Mr Abbott interjecting—

Mrs Hull interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The members for Sturt, Kalgoorlie, Warringah—and the member for Riverina, who is just leaving, or is somewhere—are warned!

Mr RUDD —This government will continue to act for regional communities around Australia, who will benefit from new community facilities; for small businesses, who will have the incentive to invest and to build their businesses; and for people who are doing it tough all around Australia—singles, families, people on low incomes—who will benefit from this package; and for the 90,000 jobs that this package will support.

This Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009 [No. 2] and related bills are in the interest of all those Australians. This Nation Building and Jobs Plan is in the nation’s interest. And today, the dividing line between us in this parliament is clear and has been drawn—between those who will stand up for the nation and its long-term interests and those who have stood up only for themselves.