House debates Questions without Notice
Swan Electorate: Education
Kim Wilkie Swan, Australian Labor Party
2:59 pm
My question is to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Did the minister sanction or approve the release of unpublished information on forthcoming grants under the Investing in Our Schools program for schools in the federal seat of Swan to the Liberal candidate for Swan in advance of notification to the member, in this case me?
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The minister will resume her seat. The member for Swan has asked a question. The minister is going to answer it. The minister will be heard.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
This is a typically self-indulgent question by an opposition member who is more interested in self-promotion than the education of young students in his electorate.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The minister will resume her seat. I call the minister. I will take action—
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Beazley interjecting
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has made an offensive suggestion and he should withdraw it.
David Hawker Speaker
I did not hear it. I call the Leader of the Opposition.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
I would like to get your adjudication on this, because I think it is fair enough, actually. What I said was, ‘Actually, it’s about corruption.’ That is what I said. The question was asked about announcing public funds through candidates as opposed to through members of parliament in the normal way.
David Hawker Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will be well aware that that is unparliamentary language—
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Do you want that withdrawn?
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
If you want that withdrawn, then I withdraw it.
David Hawker Speaker
I thank the Leader of the Opposition. I call the minister.
Jennie George Throsby, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Heritage
It is disgraceful behaviour.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Throsby will remove herself under standing order 94(a).
The member for Throsby then left the chamber.
The member for Swan has asked a serious question. I call the minister.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
The results of the Investing in Our Schools program are advised by letter—
Bernie Ripoll Oxley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations
You did it in Oxley, because one of the schools told me.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
The results of the Investing—
Bernie Ripoll Oxley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations
Mr Ripoll interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The member for Oxley will remove himself under standing order 94(a).
The member for Oxley then left the chamber.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
The results of the Investing in Our Schools program are advised by letter to each member, to each senator, to each school principal—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The minister will resume her seat. I issue a general warning!
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
and to each state education minister, and the results are placed on the department’s website.
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury
Ms King interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
I have instituted a general warning. The member for Ballarat will remove herself under standing order 94(a).
The member for Ballarat then left the chamber.
Kim Wilkie Swan, Australian Labor Party
Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table correspondence received in my office from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Science and Training, dated 27 November, which was received in my office almost one week after the Liberal candidate had been advising people in my electorate about their grant applications.
Leave granted.
Brendan Nelson Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence
Dr Nelson interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
I remind all members that a general warning has been issued.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, on a point of order: the member for Ballarat was dismissed from this chamber. The Minister for Defence did exactly the same as she did but he has received different treatment.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Grayndler will not reflect on the chair.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
I am asking you: you have issued a general warning; is it to both sides of the parliament or to one?
David Hawker Speaker
I remind the member for Grayndler that there have been interjections from both sides. I will take action.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, you say you will take action. You did take action.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. I call the honourable member for Kooyong.