Question time in federal parliament

QUESTION TIME IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

WHAT WE LEARNED

* The most recent Labor budget surplus was delivered in 1989, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reminded opposition MPs as they sought to hammer his government over another deficit and rising debt.

* It was "entirely appropriate" for the royal commission to turn its microscope "scrupulously" over any bank that seeks to prevent witnesses appearing before the inquiry because of non-disclosure agreements, Attorney-General Christian Porter said.

* The risk of espionage, sabotage or coercive influence in Australia's domestic liquid fuel refinement component of the supply chain had been assessed as relatively low, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton told MPs.

WHAT WE DIDN'T LEARN

Whether the PM agrees with Kerry Schott, architect of the government's national energy guarantee, that an investment case for building new coal-fired power plants no longer exists.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO SPIN

Every element of our budget is built on the foundation of a strong economy.

WHAT LABOR WANTED TO TALK ABOUT

Can the PM confirm gross government debt has increased by $10,000 for every man, woman and child in Australia?

THEY SAID WHAT

"There isn't a tax the Labor Party doesn't want to increase," the PM chides opposition MPs.

TWEETED

@AdamBandt: WTF?? Why is Labor trying to resurrect Abbott's 'debt and deficit' hysteria? We shd attack the Libs' Budget for its big business tax cuts & failure to fund public healthcare & schools, not reheating conservative garbage #qt

@TimWattsMP: It's a bit like the crowd at the Gabba at the moment.