House debates Questions without Notice
Liberal Party: Leadership
Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations
3:06 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister and follows on from his previous answer. I refer to the transcript of a 7.30 Report interview of 12 September in which, in response to the statement from Kerry O’Brien—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Member:
Opposition member interjecting—
Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations
It could have changed depending on the day of the week. That is a sensible point to raise. Kerry O’Brien said:
You’re not going to be there for the full three years, at some point in the three years, there’ll be a by-election—
To which the Prime Minister replied:
... whether there would be a by-election or not is something that I would determine then.
Did you mean it when you said it and do you mean it now?
David Hawker Speaker
Before I call the Prime Minister, I remind the member for Fraser he should not use the word ‘you’.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
My position is this—and I will say it very slowly so that the member for Fraser might take it in; I will start at the very beginning while the member for Fraser can take it in: if I am re-elected and my government is re-elected I will serve my full term.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Community Services
Ms Macklin interjecting
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I know you do not like that. I would also remind the member for Fraser that the answer to which he referred—
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
was given in interview on Wednesday, not on Thursday. Your original question was wrong.