09-November-2005
Speeches, Community
Mr ROBB (3.12 p.m.)—My question is addressed to the Minister for Human Services. Would the minister update the House on how the government is ensuring people receive their correct entitlements?
Interjection
Ms Gillard—Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made a grossly offensive, unparliamentary remark, and I require you to get him to withdraw it.
Interjection
The SPEAKER—If the Minister for Foreign Affairs made an offensive remark, he will withdraw it. The minister will come to the dispatch box.
Interjection
Mr Downer—I do not know what I said, Mr Speaker, but I withdraw.
Interjection
The SPEAKER—The member for Goldstein will repeat his question.
Continue
Mr ROBB—My question is addressed to the Minister for—
Interjection
Mr Downer interjecting—
Interjection
Ms Gillard—Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has resumed his seat and, I believe, has just repeated the grossly offensive remark. I require you to get him to withdraw it.
Interjection
Mr Abbott—Mr Speaker, on the point of order: my understanding is that the Minister for Foreign Affairs said that they are on Saddam’s side. What is so offensive about that, Mr Speaker? That is an accurate description of the effect of the opposition—
Interjection
The SPEAKER—The Leader of the House will resume his seat.
Interjection
Mr Crean—You bankrolled him.
Interjection
The SPEAKER—Order! The member for Hotham is warned!
Interjection
Mr Snowdon interjecting—
Interjection
The SPEAKER—Order! The member for Lingiari will remove himself from the House under standing order 94(a).
The member for Lingiari then left the chamber.
Interjection
Ms Gillard—Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It would be obvious to you that, in repeating that remark, the Leader of the House was trying to inflame the situation here. It is clearly a grossly unparliamentary remark. If you do not require that remark to be withdrawn then anything goes. Hitler’s mates—
Interjection
The SPEAKER—The Manager of Opposition Business will resume her seat and I will rule on the point of order. I repeat: if the Minister for Foreign Affairs made an offensive remark, he will withdraw it.
Interjection
Mr Downer—I withdraw it.
Interjection
Mr Abbott—In anticipation of the point of order, I also withdraw.
Interjection
The SPEAKER—The Leader of the House has also withdrawn.
Interjection
Ms Gillard interjecting—
Interjection
The SPEAKER—I remind the Manager of Opposition Business that I repeated the fact that the Leader of the House had withdrawn. The member for Goldstein will repeat his question.
Continue
Mr ROBB—My question is addressed to the Minister for Human Services. Would the minister update the House on how the government is ensuring people receive their correct entitlements?
Interjection
Ms Gillard interjecting—
Interjection
The SPEAKER—The Manager of Opposition Business is warned!
Opposition members interjecting—
Answer
Mr HOCKEY—I thank the member for Goldstein for his question. I thought I might not get the opportunity to answer it. It is a very good question. Every year Australia spends $82 billion on welfare. It is a very generous act on the part of Australian taxpayers and it represents nearly 10 per cent of Australia’s GDP: thank you, Treasurer. Fraud is a significant part of the framework. It is vitally important that we attack fraud to defend the interests of the Australian taxpayer. Last year, in response to 55,000 tip-offs, 3,500 Australians were prosecuted for welfare fraud. It is unfortunate, but it is very important for the protection of the taxpayer that we undertake those prosecutions. Cracking down on welfare fraud saves Australian taxpayers $4,000 every minute.
In the last 12 weeks, as a result of our campaign called Support the System that Supports You, 27,000 Australians have updated their incomes or changed the information held by Centrelink, and we have had a further 9,000 tip-offs. This is a very important part of our program of trying to ensure that those people who are entitled to welfare receive the welfare and that those who are not entitled to welfare are either prosecuted for fraud or have their circumstances changed to make sure that they only receive the money they are entitled to.
Interjection
Mr Howard—Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.