House debates Questions without Notice
Intelligence and Security
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:14 pm
It’s the election on ticker, I assume.
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will come to his question.
Bob Baldwin Paterson, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
Mr Baldwin interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Paterson is warned! The Leader of the Opposition will be heard when he asks the question.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
My question is to the Prime Minister. Didn’t the Prime Minister have intelligence that cast doubt on Iraq’s WMD status at the time he took Australia to war in Iraq?
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I stand by all the statements I have made in the past. I stand by all the remarks I have made and, in answer to the Leader of the Opposition, I draw attention to a statement made by the member for Griffith, the opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, when addressing the Zionist Council of Victoria.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order: its relevance. I asked whether he had intelligence that said there was doubt about whether Iraq possessed—
David Hawker Speaker
The Prime Minister has only just begun to answer his question. The Prime Minister was in order. I call the Prime Minister, and I remind all members that the Prime Minister will be heard.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The member for Griffith, the opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, had this to say to the State Zionist Council annual assembly—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This was a very short, sharp question.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. He will not debate points of order. If he has a point of order he will raise it; otherwise he will resume his seat. I will give the same ruling I just gave to the Leader of the Opposition. The Prime Minister has barely begun his answer. The Prime Minister is in order and he will be heard.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
In addressing the State Zionist Council on 15 October, the member for Griffith had this to say.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The Prime Minister will be heard or I will take action.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
He had this to say, amongst other things:
First and foremost: Saddam Hussein is a mass murderer.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Second, and this is the member for Griffith on 15 October 2002—
Nicola Roxon Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Ms Roxon interjecting
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Bear in mind he is addressing the State Zionist Council in Victoria. He had this to say:
In other words, the debate then was not about the possession of weapons of mass destruction; the debate was about what should be done.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The Prime Minister had intelligence that this was an inconclusive matter and he took us to war—
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question. The Prime Minister is responding and he is in order. The Prime Minister will be heard or I will take action.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I have been asked a question about the intelligence available to me. That is a matter that I answered fully questions on, and my position has not altered. There was intelligence available justifying the decision we took. The debate three years ago was not about the possession or the accuracy of the intelligence; the debate was about what should be done in the light of Saddam Hussein’s possession of weapons of mass destruction. The government and the opposition were at one in believing Saddam had those weapons. We disagreed about what the response would be.
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
Mr Swan interjecting
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The Leader of Opposition made the same interjection as the member for Lilley and he should also be required to withdraw it.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
I withdraw too, Mr Speaker.
