Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Mackellar, Liberal Party
3:30 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Mackellar, Liberal Party
I understand that, whilst I was absent from the chamber, the Leader of the Opposition made a statement that I had run away from criticism by the Manager of Opposition Business. Believe me, I would run away from neither of them ever. That is simply out of the question. I would put to you, Mr Speaker, in relation to her statement every point of order I raised earlier today was spot on.
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Mackellar has just grossly reflected on you, given that you ruled against her on five separate occasions. You ought not to allow that to go unremarked and unpassed. Secondly, on the matters raised by the minister over here—whatever he does I do not quite recall—if you are going to review the tape from question time about persistent interjections, I would draw your attention to the persistent and offensive conduct of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
David Hawker Speaker
Order! I have not responded to the question. As I have made clear, I will review the tape. I will not accept reflections on the chair. With the level of interjections, I could not catch the final words of the member for Mackellar, but I will look at that also.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, on a point of order: the Leader of the Opposition was repeatedly referring to a member on this side of the House as a complete ‘drop-kick’. It reflects very ill on him that he uses this kind of schoolyard language. I think it is offensive under the standing orders, and it should be withdrawn.
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will withdraw? The Leader of the Opposition will come to the microphone to withdraw.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
I withdraw.