Ms LEY (3:24 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to criticism of his great big new tax on mining from respected financial commentator, Mr Terry McCrann. Mr McCrann has stated that—

Government members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! This is question 13 at 25 past three. I have plenty of time, but if the House does not come to order, we will wait.

Ms LEY —My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to criticism of his great big new tax on mining from respected financial commentator, Mr Terry McCrann. Mr McCrann has stated that:

Does the Prime Minister agree with his Treasurer, who said yesterday—

The SPEAKER —Order! The Manager of Opposition Business does not help anything, any bright idea that he has, by that behaviour. The member for Farrer has the call. She will be listened to in silence.

Ms LEY —Does the Prime Minister agree with his Treasurer, who said yesterday that critics of the mining tax are:

Is Mr McCrann lying or is he ignorant?

Mr RUDD (Prime Minister) —Where is the member for Goldstein’s press secretary when you need him? Up there behind the member for Farrer, doing this, doing this. Stop, for goodness sake! ‘Terry McCrann criticises Australian government economic policy’? Well, hold the phone! ‘Piers Akerman is a great fan of Kevin Rudd’. For God’s sake, let us just get real about this.

On the question of the debate about the resources super profits tax, there will be a range of views expressed out there in the community, in the commentariat, on the part of industry and on the part of mining companies. We have all sides of the argument participating in it. However, what we have on the part of those opposite is an entire policy briefing run out of the MCA. For the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to stand up yesterday and say that the mining industry should pay no more tax is an extraordinary statement. She is in effect saying exactly what the MCA want her to say. That is what is occurring here.

I think it is high time the Leader of the Opposition clarified what their policy is on this matter. Is the mining industry paying enough tax? Is it not paying enough tax? Until we have clarity about their alternative position, this debate is fundamentally hampered. Our plan is clear: funding better super for working families, funding tax cuts for Australian businesses, funding smaller tax for small business and funding the future infrastructure needs of the nation. That is where we stand. We do not know where you stand at all.

Ms Ley —Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table the article ‘Rudd’s lost any claim to our trust’.

Leave granted.