Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. It is clear that the Prime Minister lacks the leadership to sack the Minister for Defence today. Prime Minister, will Senator Johnston still be the defence minister when parliament resumes next year?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We are very tolerant of the Leader of the Opposition's questions, but the first part of that question was an assertion and the second part of it was entirely hypothetical and could not possibly be in order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the Prime Minister's view is the same as that of the Leader of the House, we are happy to leave it at that.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. You can have a rephrasing of the question although I am tempted simply to rule it out of order because it is not in conformity with the standing orders.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Prime Minister, will Senator Johnston still be the defence minister when parliament resumes next year?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was not really a very successful a rephrasing of the question. We will move on. The member for Reid has the call.

Craig Laundy (Reid, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to—I might yield.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Ms Hall interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Shortland will desist. She is not in her place.

Mr Burke interjecting—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why don't you mind your own business!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the interjections across the chamber will cease. The Prime Minister on a point of order.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I would crave your indulgence to actually answer the question that the Leader of the Opposition put.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the better way to solve this is we will move to the question from the member for Reid and then the Leader of the Opposition may re-ask his question. The member for Reid.

Opposition members interjecting—

I have ruled that the member for Reid has the call.

Mr Burke interjecting—

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.

Michael Danby (Melbourne Ports, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Reid yielded! Reid yielded!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot see who is yelling. Was it the member for Melbourne Ports?

Michael Danby (Melbourne Ports, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot tell a lie.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In that case, you may leave under 94(a).

The member for Melbourne Ports then left the chamber.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just want to inquire about the ruling you just gave. Is that a suggestion that that would be in place of our ordinary question after the member for Reid's question or is it an additional one?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, it is not additional. I will return to the Leader of the Opposition following the question by the member for Reid.