House debates Questions without Notice
Turnbull Government
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:00 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that it has taken only two days for the Liberal cabinet to start leaking again, doesn't this just prove that, even though there is a new Liberal leader, it is the same policies, the same chaos and the same division?
Tony Smith Speaker
The Leader of the House on a point of order.
Mr Champion interjecting—
The member for Wakefield will cease interjecting.
Opposition members interjecting—
Members on my left will cease interjecting. The Leader of the House.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question is based on an argument, an assertion and an inference, none of which are within the standing orders. There is no part of the question, therefore, that can stand. The Leading of the Opposition might try and reframe it, but he cannot begin his question with a false assertion and then base the question on that false assertion.
Ms Claydon interjecting—
Mr Champion interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Newcastle will cease interjecting, as will the member for Wakefield. Before I call the member for Watson, I will make the point that the Speaker cannot vouch for the accuracy of questions—that has always been the case—and cannot make a judgement on that. I now call the Manager of Opposition Business.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. On two parts of the question: firstly, asking about cabinet leaks is commonplace—although rare during the first week of a Prime Minister, I accept that.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
The second issue is that the question also goes to government policies and it also goes to whether or not the policies have changed, which has to be in order.
Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Hunter is delaying me making a ruling. The aspect of the question that goes to the cabinet is within order, and I call the Prime Minister.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
2:02 pm
The heartlessness of the Leader of the Opposition is in full evidence today. He has no compassion, no feeling, for the thousands of people watching question time week after week whom he bores and drives to the point of complete frustration with one pointless political claim after another. To help the Leader of the Opposition—
Ms King interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
I will reframe his question, and this is the question he could have asked. He could have said: 'My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to a report that only—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Mr Williams interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Hindmarsh will cease interjecting.
Mr Whiteley interjecting—
The member for Braddon will cease interjecting.
Mr Whiteley interjecting—
The member for Braddon is warned!
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It is called question time, which means that there are questions and answers not from the same person.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
It implies two people.
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
It is indicative of the engaging and collaborative style of my government—
Mr Butler interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
that I am prepared to help the Leader of the Opposition and actually show him a question. So the question could have been: 'How does the Prime Minister react to the claim that a very small percentage of women were appointed by him to government boards?'
Mr Husic interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
That would be a reasonable question. And I will give him the answer. The government remains committed to its target of women holding 40 per cent of positions on Australian government boards. I point to the official data—
Mr Husic interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
which will be published later this year in the Gender balance on Australian government boardsreport 2014-15.
Mr Husic interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications
It shows that women held 40 per cent of Communications portfolio board appointments.