Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister was too busy to speak to the Reserve Bank governor himself on the deposit guarantee matter, if it turns out that the Reserve Bank governor did not, in fact, expressly recommend an unlimited deposit guarantee, will he dismiss the Secretary of the Treasury for misleading the cabinet?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Standing order 100 explicitly rules out the asking of questions which are hypothetical.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hypothetical? This is serious.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There are many questions for which a strict reading of the standing orders would mean that I would have to rule them out of order. On this occasion I am willing to allow the question.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In what has been a pretty interesting debate here in Reps today, can I say that that is the most irresponsible point I have heard made by the Leader of the Opposition. The world currently confronts a global financial crisis. The Secretary of the Treasury is integral to this government’s and the preceding government’s response to international economic developments. The Secretary of the Treasury and his team have been working huge hours week in and week out, seven days a week, to ensure that Australia’s response to this crisis—both in terms of the measures taken on bank guarantees and the measure taken in relation to the fiscal stimulus package—were the right ones for the nation.

As Prime Minister, and as leader of the government, I use this occasion to affirm 100 per cent this government’s confidence in the Secretary of the Treasury and I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to get to his feet now and do the same.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The House will come to order.

Don Randall (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Randall interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Canning will withdraw that remark.

Don Randall (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr Speaker.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will be prepared to grant leave for the opposition leader to do just that, as requested.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Port Adelaide has the call.