House debates Questions without Notice
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service
Jason Clare Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Communications
2:19 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. This morning the member for Grey referred to the Prime Minister's now infamous promise of no cuts to the ABC and SBS, and he said:
"That is not the greatest piece of footage I've seen … the Prime Minister would wish he hadn't made that exact statement."
Does the Prime Minister agree with the member for Grey and does he now wish he had never made that exact statement?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I dare say the member for Lilley wishes he had not said:
The four years of surpluses I announce tonight …
I wish that a deficit which the Labor Party said was $30 billion had not blown out to almost $50 billion. That is what I wish. I wish it did not fall to me and this government to tackle six years of debt and deficit disaster from members opposite. That is what I wish. I wish that the Leader of the Opposition was more trustworthy. That is what I wish. There are lots of things that I wish for, but above all else—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Above all else, I wish that members opposite had the character and courage of some of their predecessors like Bob Hawke and decent Labor leaders. That is what I wish.
Government members interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
As for my good friend the member for Grey, he and I are pretty well always on a unity ticket, and I can certainly agree with him.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I rise on a point of order. The member for Lilley's behaviour during that answer was utterly appalling. He called the Prime Minister every name under the sun and he should be required to withdraw it. He should be required to withdraw the unparliamentary statements that he made.
Ms Anna Burke Chisholm, Australian Labor Party
I rise on the same point of order. If the Leader of the House is going to point to people's behaviour on this side then maybe he should look at his colleagues' behaviour on the frontbench as well. This, as you well know, was a two-way street, and maybe the member for Dickson might want to out himself as well for his appalling behaviour during that.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I have to say that a further member in the chamber indicated unparliamentary language on the part of the member for Lilley. Did the member—
Honourable members interjecting—
I think the answer is that the member for Lilley will withdraw.
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party
I withdraw.
Honourable members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Minister for Health says he said nothing unparliamentary.
Honourable members interjecting—
Enough is enough. If the Minister for Health would simply say to the House that he will always conform with the standing orders, that would be a good start.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
Madam Speaker, in your presence I will always do my best.