Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
3:07 pm
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
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
Hypothetical? This is serious.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
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
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.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
Don Randall Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources
Mr Randall interjecting
Don Randall Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources
I withdraw, Mr Speaker.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
The government will be prepared to grant leave for the opposition leader to do just that, as requested.