House debates

Monday, 12 September 2016

Ministerial Arrangements

2:00 pm

Photo of Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

The Minister for Social Services will be absent from question time today as he is attending to a personal matter. The Minister for Human Services will answer questions on his behalf.

Mr Burke interjecting

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I am going to address the House and I would appreciate it if the Manager of Opposition Business will allow me to do that.

Mr Burke interjecting

I am very reluctant to hear the point of order from the Manager of Opposition Business. The Prime Minister each day outlines what the ministerial arrangements are. It is a well-known practice. It is covered well in the Practice. I caution the Manager of Opposition Business—I would not hear it from anyone other than him, but if it is a frivolous point of order, I am pre-warning him.

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, it is not required now. It was about directing questions to a minister who had not yet arrived, but that minister has now arrived.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

All right, then. I thank the Manager of Opposition Business.