Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the only reason the Prime Minister is holding on to this hopeless and incompetent Treasurer to make him a human shield for this unfair budget? Isn't it time for the Prime Minister to either dump his Treasurer or dump the budget?

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

Madam Speaker, I would—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

There will be silence! The member for Charlton has been warned. He will remove himself under standing order 94(a).

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

Madam Speaker, I would respectfully put it to you that question was not seeking any information whatsoever. It was simply a rhetorical statement to the House and should not be regarded as a question seeking information.

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

It is technically, I think, out of order but if anyone wishes to address it they may; otherwise I will simply rule it out of order and we will move on. I will call the honourable member for Flynn.

Honourable members interjecting—

The fact of the matter is there have been some questions asked during the course of the last two days which have been very close to the wind in terms of being out of order. I have allowed them to stand. On this occasion the Leader of the House has raised a point of order and explained why he believes the question to be out of order, and I have accepted that argument. I will now call the member for Flynn.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

The member for Lingiari had better watch his p's and q's, too.