Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. I refer the Deputy Prime Minister to the fact that in 2005 she solicited more than 1,300 signatures for her petition to oppose any reduction in Medicare funding for IVF. She described such cuts as ‘a cruel measure’. Does the Deputy Prime Minister support her government’s broken promise to cut the Medicare safety net funding for IVF?

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

Order! The minister can only be asked questions within her public administration and portfolio. I would rule that the question was out of order.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: my question went to her as the Deputy Prime Minister. She was a member of the Expenditure Review Committee; she was a member of the executive government. These are her decisions, and I seek leave to table the petitions referenced in Hansard that are under her name and those of other members of the government.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, leave is not granted. The question is clearly out of order. Member for Cook, you should have gone to the health minister; it is her responsibility.

Leave not granted.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But it was her petition.

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

Order! The member for Cook will resume his seat.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on the point of order: standing order 98(c) says:

A Minister can only be questioned on the following matters, for which he or she is responsible or officially connected:

(i)

public affairs;

I would have thought that the Deputy Prime Minister, who lodged a petition herself with 1,300 signatures with respect to a matter of public affairs, would be prepared to answer the question of whether she stood by the contents of that petition.

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

I think that we had examples of this surrounding the actions of parliamentary secretaries before they became—

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! We had instances—

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Robert interjecting

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

The member for Fadden will leave the chamber for one hour under standing order 94(a).

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It’s cowardly and you know it.

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

I name the member for Fadden. I call the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and I apologise; I have been describing him as the member for Perth when referring to him as the acting Leader of the House.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am very proud to be referred to as the member for Perth, and I move:

That the member for Fadden be suspended from the service of the House.

Question put.

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

Order! The honourable member for Fadden is suspended from the service of the House for 24 hours.

The member for Fadden then left the chamber.