Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that 66 eminent public health professors have written to all state and territory health ministers, including Senator Nash, calling for the health star rating website to be reinstated as a matter of urgency? Why did one junk food lobbyist employed as the minister's chief of staff determine the government's public health policy rather than the advice of dozens of public—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member will resume her seat. If the member wishes to rephrase her question, leaving out the argument in the latter part, she may ask her question. I give the call to the member for Ballarat.

Opposition members interjecting—

The Manager of Opposition Business?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on a point of order: I am trying to work out how describing a business that this individual actually was part of, and admits to being part of, and has resigned because of—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is your point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

cannot be referred to in a question?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is that there are no grounds for you to make the ruling you just made.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sorry, that is not a point of order.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What are the grounds?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have offered the member for Ballarat the opportunity to leave out the argument of her question and to rephrase it.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the argument?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She is an intelligent woman; she will work it out.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Prime Minister: is the Prime Minister aware that 66 eminent public health professors have written to all state and territory health ministers, including Minister Nash, calling for the health star rating website to be reinstated as a matter of urgency? Why was the minister's chief of staff allowed to determine the government's public health policy rather than the advice of dozens of public health experts?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will let the question stand, despite its final assertion.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member opposite for her question. The premise of the question is simply wrong. It is simply wrong. People are entitled to disagree with the position of the government, but the position of the government was determined by the government and by the minister. It is eminently defensible.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table the letter from the 66 eminent public health experts.

Leave not granted.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There will be quiet on my left!