Federal budget 2015: Wednesday May 13

The end of the day. What happened?

• Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey led the charge for the government's post budget sales pitch;
• it generally went well with much talk of having a go and the focus on what is on offer for small businesses and families;
• it came unstuck around paid parental leave with the Opposition attacking the government for changes to the scheme;
• the Opposition's more detailed response to the budget will come tomorrow night when Bill Shorten delivers his reply speech; and
• the chatter about a possible early election has begun.

Parliament House is abuzz when the budget is delivered.

Ministers throw parties attended by diplomats, heads of industry, peak body representatives and the like.

Ms Bishop hosted a shindig in her ministerial suite which Mr Abbott popped into.

Mr Abbott gave a short address which he ended by saying: "My job and Joe's job is to make sure this government lasts long enough for you to be the best and longest serving foreign minster of our country."

Cue laughter.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and her partner David Panton in Canberra on Wednesday.Credit: Andrew Meares

And here's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and her partner David Panton.

Let me go all social pages for a moment.

Treasuer Joe Hockey with his wife Melissa Babbage after his post budget speech in Canberra on Wednesday.Credit: Andrew Meares

While Mr Hockey was delivering his post budget speech a parliamentary committee was hearing evidence from the former head of the Department of Parliamentary Services, Carol Mills (for a bit of background see the 10.09 am post).

Ms Mills broke down during the hearing and asked that future secretaries not be subjected to personal attacks and continual reviews.

Phillip Thomson was at the hearing.

Former Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Carol Mills appeared before the committee on Wednesday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

And Sarah Whyte looks at the foreign aid situation.

"Aid to Indonesia has been cut by nearly half and assistance offered to Africa has plummeted by 70 per cent in historic cuts to foreign aid," Sarah writes in this story.

A couple of stories that I have been remiss in bringing to your attention.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten was interviewed on Melbourne radio this morning in which he refused to answer the question about whether Labor was responsible for leaving the Coalition with a budget deficit.

Mr Shorten did not answer the question thirteen times. 13!

Political reporter Latika Bourke has the story.

Question time concludes.

Let me just clarify the who said what about paid parental leave scheme.

The Opposition accused Treasurer Joe Hockey and Social Services Minister Scott Morrison of calling people using employer and government provided parental leave schemes fraudulent and rorters.

Mr Hockey was asked by Channel Nine veteran Laurie Oakes on Sunday if it was fraud if people used both schemes.

Mr Hockey agreed with the proposition although he did not actually use the word himself.

Mr Morrison told Sky News on Monday that people who accessed both schemes were engaged in "a rort".

Transcripts available on request.

Treasurer Joe Hockey during question time on Wednesday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Question time moves on, temporarily, to an opportunity for Education Minister Christopher Pyne to launch into a dazzling display of his cultural knowledge.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten doesn't know if he's "Ebeneeze Scrooge or the great Gatsby, Toad of Toad Hall or the Grinch", My Pyne quips.

Leader of the House Christopher Pyne during question time on Wednesday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Labor MP Jenny Macklin has now managed to read the exact quote from Mr Morrison about paid parental leave into Hansard which means she can ask him if he still thinks that people are rorting the system.

Mr Morrison (who, incidentally, is turning 47 today) says he does stand by the principle that people should not be able to access both two schemes.

Ms Plibersek's recently recovered self composure evaporates and she too is sent out of question time.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek during question time on Wednesday.Credit: Andrew Meares