Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister identify one other venue in Australia—let alone one with the spectacular harbour views from Kirribilli—where one can entertain 225 people and feed them oysters, prawns and other gourmet food for less than $10 a head? Is the Prime Minister aware that the cocktail food menu at St George Leagues Club for an equivalent function of two hours is good value at $22 a head? Prime Minister, when are you going to come clean on the real cost of your taxpayer funded function at Kirribilli?

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

Mr Speaker—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order!

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

Mr Speaker, I rose to make this point of order—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Mackellar will resume her seat. When a member has the call, the member will be heard. I will take action.

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

I rose to raise my point of order, whilst the question was halfway through, to point out that a question—

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

The member for Melbourne Ports is warned!

Laurie Ferguson (Reid, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Urban Development and Consumer Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Laurie Ferguson interjecting

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

The member for Reid is warned!

Bernie Ripoll (Oxley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is that the Shroud of Turin?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I heard from members opposite a reference to the Shroud of Turin. We really should not have that kind of behaviour in the House, especially from this opposition leader’s opposition. I think that reference should be withdrawn and apologised for.

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

The Leader of the House has raised a point. I note the concern he raises, but I do not believe that that is unparliamentary language. The honourable member for Mackellar will be heard.

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

I rose to make the point of order that the question being asked by the member opposite had a long preface, which is against the standing orders. I rose part way through the question, which I note he has now completed, to make that point of order. For the future, it has become the practice of the opposition to use long prefaces to questions, which are quite out of order.

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

I listened carefully to the question. The question was in order. I call the Prime Minister.

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

In answer to the question, I repeat the answer that I gave yesterday: all the additional costs of this function have been borne by the Liberal Party.