House debates Questions without Notice
Enterprise Migration Agreements
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
3:07 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. To give her the chance to clear this matter up once and for all, did the Prime Minister—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
No, the Leader of the Opposition cannot put in that! The Leader of the Opposition will come back to his question. He will take out the preamble.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Did the Prime Minister tell the union bosses that she was furious about the Roy Hill enterprise migration agreement? Did she or did she not?
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
3:08 pm
I have dealt with that question and the fact that here is the Leader of the Opposition yet again, with all his destructive intent. While this government has been getting on with creating Australian jobs, there he is mired in his petty, petty politics.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The Prime Minister will resume her seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
The Prime Minister has responded to questions but she is yet to answer the question. The question is: did she or did she not?
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. He is abusing points of order! I advised I would send people out of the chamber if they did so. The Manager of Opposition Business will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).
The Prime Minister has the call.
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Thank you very much.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: respectfully responding to what you have just told the House, I think—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. This is not the opportunity to take that up. I did advise that if people continued to abuse points of order I would ask them to leave the chamber. The Leader of the Opposition?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: I accept absolutely that points of order should not be abused, but I think the parliament should not be abused, either, by ministers and prime ministers who fail to be straight with the parliament.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat!
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors
Madam Deputy Speaker—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
Member for Mackellar, I am taking the same position that former speakers did. I will not be entering into debate about issues at this time. The member for Mackellar will resume her seat. The Manager of Opposition Business will leave the chamber. The Prime Minister has the call.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors
Madam Deputy Speaker—
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
Member for Mackellar, you are seeking to enter into a debate about an issue. I am not allowing it at this time. The member for Mackellar will resume her seat. The Prime Minister has the call.
The member for Sturt then left the chamber.
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. I think we have seen on grand display the lack of interest of the opposition in this serious policy question. They don't care about jobs. Petty politics back and forth, petty politics back and forth—that is all they will ever be about.