Question time in federal parliament

QUESTION TIME IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

WHAT WE LEARNED

* The government won't be setting up a CEO salary and average employee wages transparency register, despite a suggestion by independent MP Bob Katter. It was up to company boards to ensure the balance between the two markers was right, Treasurer Scott Morrison said.

* The initial cost of enlarging the Cotter Dam in the ACT was $120 million. That was until the CFMEU got involved, claimed Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. By the time construction finished the cost was $409 million.

* The Abbott government's decision not to amend a contentious section of the Racial Discrimination Act has neither been reviewed nor altered by the Turnbull government, the PM told MPs.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LEARN

- How much Malcolm Turnbull donated to a cash-strapped Liberal Party during the election campaign. All will become clear when donations are revealed in accordance with the law, the prime minister told curious Labor MPs.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO SPIN

Making trade unions and their officials more accountable and restoring the construction and building industry watchdog are important and critical parts of our economic plan.

WHAT LABOR WANTED TO TALK ABOUT

Does the prime minister stand by his absolute guarantee that Australians will not pay more to see the doctor as a result of his Medicare rebate freeze?

THEY SAID WHAT

"Why don't you ask the prime minister about the millions he has donated to medical research?"

- Cabinet minister Peter Dutton challenges Labor MPs after the PM was asked a question about his donations to the Liberal Party.

"If he has concerns, I would suggest he holds his nose and does the unspeakable thing of talking to the attorney. He's got to get over these petty personal animosities and get on our team, get on Australia's team."

- PM takes Mark Dreyfus to task about the shadow attorney-general's concerns terror citizenship laws he signed-off on may be vulnerable to a High Court challenge.

TWEETED

@SwannyQLD: "Morrison has nothing to say about the power of the CEO Union."