Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Yesterday the Prime Minister misled parliament while trying to defend a minister who misled parliament. This morning he refused to attend this chamber to correct the record and apologise for misleading the House. Why does the Prime Minister think that the usual standards of integrity and accountability don't apply to him?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't accept the assertion that has been put forward by the Leader of the Opposition. On the matters of yesterday that he referred to: with regard to the attribution of a quote, when it was brought to my attention I took immediate action to ensure that the House was informed of that correction.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You wrote a letter!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hear the interjection of the Leader of the Opposition.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The reason I wrote a letter last night is I was on a plane on my way to Sydney for a family event, which the Leader of the Opposition knew well about.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Subsequent to that—

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

The Prime Minister will pause for a second. The members for Oxley, Paterson and Lalor are warned. I just invite members to reflect on what I've said throughout the course of the week with respect to 94(a). I'm not going to detain the House; I will just act very quickly.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That letter, which I authorised, was provided to the House, and it was tabled here by the Attorney-General to ensure that the House was immediately informed of the necessary correction that had to be made. That was followed up with a further letter to the Clerk. As you advised the House last night, Mr Speaker, these are the appropriate forums of the House through which to correct the record. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to take issue with the Speaker on this matter, he is at liberty to do so.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

The member for Sydney is warned.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Here we are in question time in the nation's capital, and the Leader of the Opposition is bickering about a quotation in an answer to a question, which has been corrected for the record. This is what the Leader of the Opposition believes are the real issues facing this country.

The tawdry political games that the Leader of the Opposition has been engaged in in this House this week found their overreach, particularly today, when the Leader of the Opposition voted that the member for Herbert could no longer be heard when he was speaking on the issue of veteran suicide.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Members on both sides!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sure the Leader of the Opposition deeply regrets—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The level of noise and interjections is far too high. I'm certainly not going to join that level of noise. I will act in a different way. I'm issuing a general warning.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The political games played by the Leader of the Opposition and the Labor Party this week descended so low as to vote that a veteran of this country speaking about veteran suicide should no longer be heard.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Sydney will leave under standing order 94(a).

The member for Sydney then left the chamber.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you look at the ayes and the noes of that motion that that member be no longer heard, at the top of the list is the Leader of the Opposition. I understand the Leader of the Opposition loves the political games—

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. In case members don't know what a general warning is: essentially, you've all been warned. The Leader of the Opposition, on a point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It goes to relevance. This is about the Prime Minister's actions, and what he is quite extraordinarily talking about is who has been gagged in this House. It's not possible for us to gag any government member—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. I understand the point of order that the Leader of the Opposition is making, but I'd also say to him that, with the subject matter of the question and those first couple of sentences that were assertions rather than a question, it does, in those circumstances, open things up.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has authorised political games in this place which have gagged a veteran of this country speaking about veteran suicide. The Leader of the Opposition should grow up from his political games. He should focus on the real issues that Australians wish to focus on, get over the politics and get on with the policy.

Ms Swanson interjecting—

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

The member for Paterson will leave under standing order 94(a).

The member for Paterson then left the chamber.