House debates Questions without Notice: Additional Answers
Nuclear Energy
Ian Macfarlane Groom, Liberal Party, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
3:09 pm
Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.
Ian Macfarlane Groom, Liberal Party, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
I was earlier asked by the member for Kingsford Smith whether the government would release a submission by the Nuclear Fuel Leasing Group to the uranium mining processing and nuclear energy review. I advise the House that the Nuclear Fuel Leasing Group provided a public submission to the review and this submission is available on the website of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Bernie Ripoll Oxley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation
So why didn’t you know that?
Ian Macfarlane Groom, Liberal Party, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
I table that submission. A second submission including commercial-in-confidence information was also provided to the review on the basis that the submission would not be made public.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Albanese interjecting
Ian Macfarlane Groom, Liberal Party, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
Consistent with longstanding government practice, this request has been respected. I also table a list of submissions received from organisations to the review.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, I will table documents, but I thought there might be a personal explanation from the Leader of the Opposition beforehand. I am waiting, Mr Speaker. I am still waiting, Mr Speaker, and, I tell you, he is going through the motions of writing—but we know what he is thinking. He is thinking, ‘This is a bad day.’
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The Leader of the House will resume his seat. When the Leader of the House is called to help proceedings, he will not engage in debate. I call the Leader of the House.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I am justly rebuked!
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. A number of members on this side of the House have been excluded from the House today, and many were warned. None of them have behaved as badly as the Leader of the House did just then in terms of unparliamentary—
David Hawker Speaker
The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I say to the Manager of Opposition Business that he will not reflect on the chair. Furthermore, I say to the Manager of Opposition Business that he is developing a habit of reflecting on the chair both in the chamber and outside of the chamber. If he continues to do it, I will take firm action.