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

My question—

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

One moment. The member for Solomon.

Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I just wanted to draw your attention to the member for Lingiari and ask that he withdrawal the very unparliamentary comment he made to the Prime Minister.

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

To assist the House, the member should withdraw.

Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for External Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not know what it is that I—

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

I would ask the member for Lingiari to withdraw if he used an unparliamentary term.

Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for External Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, with great respect I do not know what I said that was unparliamentary. But if I have upset those cheap petals over there, I do withdraw.

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

The member for Lingiari will leave under 94(a).

The member for Lingiari then left the chamber.

I call the Leader of the Opposition.

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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, and again today, the Prime Minister has said of the President of the Human Rights Commissioner that she was not asked to resign and no inducement has been offered. But at Senate estimates his Attorney-General said that Professor Triggs's position was untenable and that he hoped she could be encouraged to resign or would be willing to serve the government in other capacities. Why does the Prime Minister persist with a position that no-one believes?

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

This is not a question. It is much more an accusation than a question from the Leader of the Opposition. I repeat: the President of the Human Rights Commission has not been asked to resign. No inducement has been offered, as the President herself has declared to Senate estimates. But the government has lost confidence in the President because the President, in consultation with Labor ministers, thought that it was political to have an inquiry when the number of children in detention was almost 2000.

Ms Owens interjecting—

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

The member for Parramatta will desist and is warned.

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

The President thought it was political to have an inquiry into children in detention then.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs will desist.

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

So what did she do? She had an inquiry, presumably a political inquiry, when the number of children in detention was 200 and declining all the time. I am delighted to have questions on this subject from the Leader of the Opposition. I invite the Leader of the Opposition to continue asking questions on this subject because every question that he asks gives me the chance to declare that members opposite were total failures when it comes to border protection. Thanks to consistent failure, thanks to a weakness of will, thanks to a lack of ability to govern on the part of members opposite—

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

some 50,000—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Rankin will withdraw and then leave under 94(a).

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw 'pathological liar'.

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

I name the member for Rankin!