Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left will cease interjecting.

Mr Whiteley interjecting—

The member for Braddon has already been warned.

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There is no such policy in relation to higher education so I do not know how a question can be based on a bald-faced lie. Therefore, I would ask you to rule it out of order.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I have said, there is a long history—and there is quite a bit on this in the Practice—that I cannot judge the factual accuracy of questions. I am going to allow the question. It gives the responder to the question the ability to deal with any such matters. I call the Prime Minister.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again, the Leader of the Opposition has missed an opportunity—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Jagajaga is warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to ask a substantive question. Instead, he has taken a few claims out of one of his Labor leaflets, the same one where they said they had brought the budget back into balance—remember that one—and he has put them in there and claimed they are the government's policies. The honourable member knows that his claim, for example, that the government is legislating for $100,000-degrees is nonsense. The government's policies have been carefully considered. They are the government's policies. Every policy of any rational, constructive government is always under review. Of course our cabinet—

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

The member for Moreton then left the chamber.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

will examine the challenges that we face, the policies that we have. We will develop new policies.

I would encourage the opposition leader over the next three weeks to think about changing his question time strategy. He should have pity on the people of Australia, who are crying out for an opposition that is actually interested in the economy, that is actually interested in the details of the problems that Australians face and wants to hold the government to account. But just shouting a political zinger or slogan across the dispatch box, what is the point of that? It can receive a political answer but can get nothing of substance. So I invite the honourable member, in the spirit of collaboration, of almost bipartisanship, perhaps he will agree to pity the people of Australia and have a question time where questions are genuine, serious and focused on the real challenges.