Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the unprecedented cabinet leak on national security. Given that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Communications have publicly claimed that they were not the source of the leak, will the Prime Minister be seeking similar assurances from the Attorney-General, the Minister for Agriculture, the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Education?

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

Yet again we have proof that the contemporary Labor Party is more interested in trivia than in the reality of national security, more interested in political gossip and trivia than in strengthening the national security of our nation.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, a point of order: this was an unprecedented leak about national security—

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

The member will resume his seat. How many times do I have to say that it is not a point of order to rise and repeat a question? The next person to do it can leave.

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

This interjection, disguised as a point of order, comes from a member of a government that backstabbed two Prime Ministers. We are facing an unprecedented challenge to our national security, and all members opposite are interested in is gossip and trivia. Let me point out, for the benefit of members opposite, that we are facing an unprecedented challenge to our national security. The latest advice from our security agencies is that there are 110 Australians known to be fighting with terrorist groups, such as the Daesh death cult in the Middle East. There are well over 150 Australians now known to be supporting them with financing and recruitment.

I regret to inform the House that it is now thought that some 35 Australians have been killed while fighting for this Daesh death cult. This is an unprecedented national security challenge, and the Labor Party still cannot say—or will not say—where it stands on the vital issue of stripping citizenship from terrorists with dual nationality. We know where we stand—

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, a point of order on relevance: the Prime Minister has made no attempt to be directly relevant to the question.

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

The member will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

In the face of this unprecedented threat to our national security, this government is taking every reasonable measure to keep the Australian people safe. We do not want to play politics about this, because we know, instinctively, that anyone who raises a gun or a knife to an Australian because of who we are has utterly forfeited any right to be considered one of us. That is what we believe. What do you believe? Do you want dual national citizens to keep their citizenship? That is what they want.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on a point of order: under standing order 91 the Prime Minister is wilfully disregarding the standing orders and you should bring him to order.

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

There is no point of order at all. Resume your seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I was asked a question about national security and cabinet deliberations on national security. I am making the fundamental point that this government knows where it stands. Our view is that terrorists with dual nationality will be stripped of their citizenship, and I ask again: what does Labor believe on this?

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

Madam Speaker, I seek leave to have him table a copy of the bill he was referring to. He referred to specific provisions of a bill. I would ask him to table it.

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

The member will resume his seat. Normally, tabling is asked when a member wishes documents from which somebody is quoting to be tabled.

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

Madam Speaker, I distinctly heard the Leader of the Opposition say, when the Prime Minister resumed his seat, that our measures were 'dog whistling'. He said it twice, in fact. I find that very offensive and I would ask him to withdraw that statement.

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

The Leader of the Opposition would assist the House if he would withdraw the comment.

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

I withdraw.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Madam Speaker, on a point of order: the member for Solomon should withdraw her unparliamentary remark.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

There will be silence! The member for Hunter will desist or leave. If the member for Solomon made an unparliamentary remark she should withdraw.

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

Madam Speaker, my apologies for calling him a liar.

Opposition members: Withdraw!

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

I am sorry, that is totally unacceptable.

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

I withdraw.

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

Madam Speaker, on a point of order: members of this side have been thrown out for that precise behaviour. I draw your attention to—

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

I do not need gratuitous advice and, had you waited, action might have been taken, but now you have precipitated it. However, the member for Solomon is certainly warned. One more utterance and she will leave. There is no point of order.

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

Madam Speaker, I have a point to raise.

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

Go ahead and raise it.

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

Madam Speaker, you cannot say the interpretation of the standing order changes because a point of order was raised.

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

It was not a point of order.

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

That is what you just ruled! Had I not raised it, you would have kicked her out—but because I raised it you will not.

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

I said there was no point of order. You are attempting to give gratuitous advice. And that is not a point of order.