House debates Prime Minister
Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order under standing order 97a, which states, as you would be aware, that question time shall begin at 2.00 pm on each sitting day. If they do not want to have question time in future—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The Leader of the House will resume his seat. I have called on question time. I have given the call to the Leader of the Opposition. As the Leader of the House knows, even though I thought that the Leader of the Opposition might have been going to ask a question, the procedure that he is outlining is permissible. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
I move:
That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving forthwith the following motion:That the Prime Minister be called and address the House, for a period not exceeding 10 minutes to be followed by the Leader of the Opposition for the same time, to address the claim that his new mining tax will drive investment offshore, destroy jobs and risk Australia’s economic prosperity, and, in particular that the Prime Minister:
- (1)
- explain why his great big new tax doesn’t risk our prosperity when today’s announcement by Xstrata – to immediately suspend $586 million of investment in two Queensland mining projects and put 3,250 new jobs at risk – proves otherwise;
- (2)
- stop playing class war politics over the livelihoods of mining communities across Australia and dump his tax before any more projects are jeopardised or another job lost; and
- (3)
- stop hiding from the mining industry, the Parliament and the Australian people by stepping up to the mark today and defending his tax.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Mr Albanese interjecting
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
You are surely not going to try to hide this Prime Minister again in this parliament; you are surely not trying to hide him again.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Leader of the House has the call.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
2:04 pm
I move:
That the member be no longer heard.
Question put.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
2:11 pm
I second the motion. He is losing jobs and he is too gutless to debate it.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
2:12 pm
I move:
That the member be no longer heard.
Question put.
Original question put:
That the motion (Mr Abbott’s) be agreed to.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Franklin was on her feet seeking the call to ask a question because she wanted to—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
Mr Albanese interjecting
