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

Mr Speaker, my question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, how do you sleep at night after your neglect—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! Members on my right.

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

meant that Australian money bought the bullets fired at our brave soldiers on your incompetent watch?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! Members on my right! The Leader of the Opposition will repeat his question.

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

That was the question, Mr Speaker, and he heard it.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I didn’t.

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

I ask the Leader of the Opposition to repeat his question.

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

Prime Minister, how do you sleep at night after your neglect meant Australian money bought the bullets fired at our brave soldiers on your incompetent watch?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like any other person who holds high office, there are occasions when I do not sleep as well as I might otherwise because there are things on my mind. That is a perfectly normal thing, and I thank the Leader of the Opposition for asking me the question. In relation to the war in Iraq, the House is aware that the positions of the government and the opposition on this issue have been very different. I have pointed out in the last couple of days, and this question gives me an opportunity to point out again, that the Leader of the Opposition was less than enthusiastic in his endorsement of the Labor Party’s position three years ago. He was not on the front bench. He believed that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and three years ago he was a classic fence sitter. It is now opportunistic for him to parade his credentials as having always been a devoted opponent.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Gillard interjecting

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

Order! The member for Lalor is warned!

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He claims that in some way this government connived, allowed and was neglectful, which led to bullets being purchased with Australian money. I would remind the Leader of the Opposition that it was not Australian money—

Michael Danby (Melbourne Ports, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Danby interjecting

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

Order! The member for Melbourne Ports is warned.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

but it was money that came out of the escrow account of the United Nations. It was money that ultimately belonged to the people of Iraq. It was not Australian money. So much is the Leader of the Opposition not on top of the facts of this debate that he even makes that fundamental mistake.

As the Leader of the Opposition in a confected display of indignity winds himself up for yet another censure motion, the allegation made by the Leader of the Opposition that we turned a blind eye and allowed bullets to be purchased that might have been used against Australian soldiers is a contemptible claim. Even the opposition leader, in his embattled status, knows that that is a contemptible claim.