Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wonder if you could reflect upon, and report back to the House on, the basis of a ruling you gave a couple of times today. I will just use one example. It related to the question to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. You said that the question was out of order. The standing order says, of course, that the matter for which the minister is responsible—

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

Are you questioning the ruling?

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am asking the Speaker to respond—

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

Are you doing a smart-arse act?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Did you just hear what she said? That is unparliamentary language. She said ‘smart-arse’.

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

If the member for Mackellar used an unparliamentary word, she will withdraw it.

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

If the word is unparliamentary, of course I withdraw it.

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

If the member for Ballarat used the same term, she should also withdraw.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did not yell it out; I was just telling him what it was.

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

She said it very audibly and she should withdraw also.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I just wanted to give you the opportunity to reflect upon, and report back to the House on, the basis on which you ruled that question out of order, because the standing orders, as well as saying that ministers can be asked questions on matters for which they are responsible, say they can also be asked questions with regard to public affairs with which they are officially connected.

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

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

I say to the member for Mackellar that I am listening to the member for Fraser. He has hardly finished his question. The member for Mackellar might allow him to finish his question before she interrupts.

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

Mr Speaker, it is about the question that I am drawing the point of order.

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

I have not called the member for Mackellar. I will rule on the question raised by the member for Fraser when he completes his question.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It seems to me there is a very important aspect of question time, which is holding people accountable for their actions. When it talks about public affairs with which they are officially connected, that is much broader than portfolio matters for which they are directly responsible. The standing orders explicitly make that connection. I am amazed at the interpretation that said that question was out of order. I did not want to disrupt question time by raising a point of order then or a dissent, so I just ask you to reflect and report back.

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

The member for Fraser has made his point. I would say to the member for Fraser that he should also refer to the House of Representatives Practice on this issue. Clearly the question did not relate directly to the minister’s portfolio responsibilities. Nonetheless, I gave the minister the choice of answering it and he chose to give an answer.