Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:23 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister and follows part of the answer he gave to a previous question. Did the Prime Minister previously say that opposing the dictator Saddam Hussein did not in itself justify the war?
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I said a range of things and so did those who sit opposite. I will return to the speech made by the member for Griffith because it is apposite to this very debate.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Ms Macklin interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned!
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
He said:
This person, Saddam Hussein is no Sunday school, Sabbath school teacher. This is a seriously evil dude. Let us not pretend he is anything other—
David Hawker Speaker
Before calling the member for Grayndler on a point of order, I will point out that the Prime Minister is entirely in order in answering that question.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr President, my point of order goes to relevance.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has only just begun to answer his question. He is speaking to the subject of the question. He is in order and he deserves to be heard.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The member for Griffith said:
Three years ago it was the belief of the government, based on intelligence assessments, that Saddam did possess weapons of mass destruction. That was the belief and that was the belief of our coalition partners. It was also my belief, articulated in the major speeches I made at the time, that we should—
Simon Crean Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development
Mr Crean interjecting
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
always take into account our close alliance and friendship with the United States in determining our attitude on these matters. I also drew very heavily to attention the evil character of the Saddam Hussein regime. I do not resile in any way from the decision the government took three years ago, nor will I be reluctant in reminding this House that if the advice of the Labor Party had been followed Saddam would still be brutalising Iraq.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
David Hawker Speaker
Order! Members are holding up their own question time.