Mr MORRISON (Cook—Prime Minister and Minister for the Public Service) (14:05): I thank the member for his question and I thank him for the strong leadership he's shown in his community, as so many members have done as their communities have been confronted by terrible fires in recent weeks. I was with the member for Wright in his electorate on Friday, with Jenny, and had the opportunity to thank the volunteers for the tremendous work they're doing. Whether they're working in the canteen or they're working on the front line of the fire, they are doing an extraordinary job. I know the anxiety that they're going through at this point and that's why it's incredibly important the government moves swiftly, acting with the state governments in both New South Wales and Queensland—in particular, from the member's home state—to ensure that the disaster relief funding is put in place and those payments are available through the state government. But we also, as of today, have activated the Disaster Recovery Allowance, and that's offering assistance for those whose income has been affected by fires, for 13 weeks, and that's available in Armidale, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Glen Innes, Inverell, Tenterfield, Yooralla and Walcha in New South Wales, and in Noosa, Scenic Rim, Southern Downs and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. There's been much talk about the government's budget coming back into surplus this year. The final budget outcome will come out soon, in terms of the finish of the most recent financial year. It's important to rebuild the nation's finances and bring the budget back into surplus to ensure that we can pay down debt. Indeed, in the most recent budget figures, the debt will fall by some $50 billion over the forward estimates and interest payments will fall from $14.1 billion down to $8.7 billion over the forward estimates. It's important you do that, because I remember when the floods hit Brisbane and what the Labor Party had to do, because they were at that time facing a more than $40 billion deficit. They had to tax the Australian people with a flood levy because they weren't able to manage the finances of the Australian government. So it's very important. Opposition members interjecting— Mr MORRISON: Those opposite mount interjections and they have been the ones who have been saying that the budget surplus should be eroded. We don't believe so, because we believe we need to stay in a strong financial position to achieve a budget surplus, which those opposite do not believe we should do, so we can respond to natural disasters and so we can respond to the needs of farmers and rural communities who are facing drought. The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order? Mr Albanese: My point of order is on decency, Mr Speaker. We should not politicise natural disasters— The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call. Mr MORRISON: Mr Speaker, I take the member's interjection. That is not what the government is doing. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Members on my left! Mr MORRISON: I am pointing out very clearly that, in order to be able to respond, you must be able to ensure the government maintains a strong financial position. That's what we must do. (Time expired) Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Members on both sides! The member for Griffith. The member for Petrie is not seeking a question, I hope. Mr Howarth: The shadow Treasurer just reflected on the Prime Minister and he should withdraw. It's that simple. The SPEAKER: As is often the case when members are interjecting wildly, I find it bizarre that I'm expected to hear everything that's going on, but if the shadow Treasurer did make an unparliamentary comment, he needs to withdraw it. I'll leave it up to him. Dr Chalmers: Thanks, Mr Speaker. I withdraw. The SPEAKER: I thank the member for Rankin.