Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and it refers to the government’s plans to pay for infrastructure which the New South Wales is now too broke to afford. I ask: does the minister agree that the New South Wales government should sack itself and call an election immediately to save the people of New South Wales from the sheer incompetence crippling our state?

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

Order! The question is out of order. I call the member for Melbourne Ports.

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

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. The member for Warringah was referring to an article in a newspaper today—

Lindsay Tanner (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

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

The Minister for Finance and Deregulation will resume his seat. The unnecessary use of the front page of the paper amuses me no end! I will allow a point of order on my suggestion that the question was out of order.

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

Mr Speaker, the member for Warringah asked a question about a media report today. He asked a question of the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, who is going to allocate money to New South Wales infrastructure. It seems like a perfectly legitimate question to ask.

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

Order! I think it was a long bow when the minister was asked whether or not he thought the New South Wales government should sack itself. The member for Melbourne Ports has the call.