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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister has failed to express confidence in his Minister for Defence, will the Prime Minister now demand the minister's resignation or will he sack him?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

I have to say now that yesterday's behaviour was absolutely appalling and will not be tolerated again today. We will begin with the member for Wakefield leaving immediately. There will be silence on my right as well. I will have no hesitation in asking government members to leave if their behaviour is of equal disorder.

The member for Wakefield then left the chamber.

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

The Minister for Defence is doing an absolutely outstanding job, following six years of neglect by members opposite. Let's never forget—

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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

I can see the member for Moreton is anxious to join the member for Wakefield.

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

that members opposite cut $16 billion out of defence. As a result of the cuts and the neglect by members opposite, defence spending as a percentage of GDP fell to its lowest level since 1938. I trust this Minister for Defence to deliver us a competent, professional and effective armed force. The extraordinary professionalism and conduct of our armed forces over the last year or so is a tribute to them, but it is also a credit to the Minister for Defence.

It is true that the Minister for Defence engaged in an uncalled-for rhetorical flourish in the Senate yesterday. He said something in the Senate which he should not have said—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting —

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

The member for Gorton will leave under 94(a).

The member for Gorton then left the chamber.

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

which he did not mean, which he has withdrawn and which he has apologised for. Yes, there were problems with the Australian Submarine Corporation—problems that members opposite did not fix, problems that developed under the Labor Party and which the Labor Party was incapable of fixing.

So often this government is dealing with problems that it did not create. As always, we have to take responsibility for fixing them. We have taken responsibility for fixing the air warfare destroyer project. It is now in reasonable shape, thanks in large measure to the good work of the Minister for Defence. He has my full confidence.