Budget 2016 Live from Parliament House

I apologise mightily for the early wrap up but I have a pressing appointment to get to. What happened?

• it's budget eve;
• the government is setting the stage for a budget that contains a "national economic plan";
• this is likely to include tax cuts for business but the government is adopting a "wait and see" approach;
• the opposition is doing its best to paint the budget as unfair by repeatedly asking why companies will get tax cuts but many families will not; and
• French Prime Minister Manuel Valls was in Canberra to talk up his country's winning tender for the new fleet of submarines.

My thanks to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen for their amazing work and to you for reading and commenting.

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Andrew, Alex and I will be back in the morning and we hope to see you then. Until then - good afternoon.



Ms Plibersek asks Mr Turnbull if he will support Mr Rudd's bid for United Nations' secretary general.

She does this without actually mentioning Mr Rudd's name which Mr Turnbull notes.

Mr Turnbull says cabinet will consider the matter should it become a more formal issue.

Industry Minister Christopher Pyne is answering a question about submarines which involves mention of the carbon tax and Labor's pandering to "the cafe latte set".

This Opposition Leader is so bad, he chirrups, that he changed his football team.

Or 'on water'.

Sorry.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott during question time on Monday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Tony Abbott during question time on Monday.Credit: Andrew Meares

I won't mention the word 'spill' if you don't.

Again Mr Shorten asks Mr Turnbull why he would give tax cuts to big companies and yet not adequately invest in schools.

Mr Turnbull says the Coalition's education policy is better because it "will get the outcomes parents want".

"We'll ensure that kids are assessed on literacy and basic numeracy when they come into school at age five," he says.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison during question time on Monday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Shorten returns to his theme, this time in relation to the number of people in regional Queensland who will not be receiving a tax cut in tomorrow night's budget.

Mr Turnbull uses the opportunity to bring up a forthcoming biography of Mr Shorten in which he says he will "lead like a unionist" which, of course, allows Mr Turnbull to bring up all manner of poor behaviour exhibited by the union movement.

Mr Turnbull goes on to raise workers who were "sold down the river" by Mr Shorten.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten during question time on Monday.Credit: Andrew Meares

Treasurer Scott Morrison takes a question from his own side after a (futile) protest by the opposition pointing out that Mr Turnbull just said everyone would have to wait and see.

Mr Shorten continues wanting to know why Mr Turnbull wants to give multi national companies a tax cut when 80 per cent of Tasmanian workers earn less than $80,000 a year.

"I can well understand the excitement, the anticipation as he waits for the Treasurer's budget speech tomorrow night," Mr Turnbull begins by way of a warm up.

"He only has to wait until tomorrow night", he continues, before he can stop asking "speculative questions based out of fantasy".

(I think you can guess how the government is going to handle each opposition question today.)

Treasurer Scott Morrison and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton during question time on Monday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Turnbull is more forthcoming in an answer to a government MP: "This budget will be responsible, fair and prudent."

"Our economic plan maximises the potential for new jobs and new growth."

Tony Abbott during question time on Monday.Credit: Andrew Meares