Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the National Party. Did the New South Wales branch of The Nationals put forward the following motion at the national federal conference on the weekend:

That this federal conference of The Nationals requests that, in the climate arising from the ongoing Cole inquiry into the AWB—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question is quite out of order. That is nothing to do with the public responsibility of the minister concerned. I ask that you rule it out of order.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say in response to the member for Mackellar that I am listening closely to the member for Griffith. He would be aware that requests on party matters as such are not in order, but I will listen to his question.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The motion put at The Nationals federal conference at the weekend was:

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Under the standing orders there is no way that can be in order. None of that question has anything to do with the public responsibility of the minister concerned.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note the point of order made by the member for Mackellar. As I have already indicated to her, I am listening carefully. I have indicated already to the member for Griffith that the first part of his question appears to be out of order, but I am waiting to hear the rest of his question.

Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I refer you to page 538 of House of Representatives Practice, which says specifically:

There is a whole raft of precedents to support that. I put it to you that the preamble of this question is out of order.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Boothby will resume his seat. I have already ruled on a similar point of order. I have called the member for Griffith and I am listening carefully to his question.

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The motion deals with matters that we have been discussing in this parliament for the best part of a year. It goes to the terms of reference relating to the Cole commission. If this is out of order then this parliament has no role.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. I have ruled on this point. I am listening carefully to the member for Griffith’s question and I have indicated to him that I expect that he will get to his question. I ask the member for Griffith to come to his question.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The end of the motion was:

... the Australian federal government be asked to openly and vigorously investigate allegations of misconduct by persons representing or effectively representing the Australian people.

Minister, why was this motion pulled from your federal conference?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! That question is out of order.