Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that Gina Rinehart offered $175 million for a charitable cancer centre in Darwin but has withdrawn that offer in response to the defeat of Adam Giles as Chief Minister? Will the Prime Minister undertake to ask Gina Rinehart, either directly or through her media adviser, Sophie Mirabella, to stick to her original commitment in the interests of cancer sufferers in the Northern Territory?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on both sides will cease interjecting.

Honourable members interjecting—

I have asked members to cease interjecting. The question is out of order. There is no doubt that the question is out of order. I will hear from the Manager of Opposition Business. I thought it was obvious even to the Manager of Opposition Business, why it is out of order. You are talking about a private citizen who has made a commitment to a Chief Minister for whom the Prime Minister is not responsible. The Prime Minister is responsible—

Honourable members interjecting—

Members will find themselves watching further proceedings on their television in their office if they keep interjecting. The Manager of Opposition Business can have a go.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have a point of order. The final part of the question asked the Prime Minister whether he would make representations. That has to be within his control and therefore has to be in order for question time.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate the intent of the question, but the Prime Minister is not responsible for any arrangement that a private citizen has made with a Chief Minister. Now that is my view of the matter. The member for Grayndler.

Government members interjecting—

Members on my right. The Minister for Revenue and Financial Services.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on the point of order: the Prime Minister is absolutely responsible for his own actions and whether he will—

Honourable members interjecting—

I understand your point about the first half, but the second half of the question very clearly asks the Prime Minister to make representations. Surely everyone in this House would agree that it would be a good thing if he did.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. I have made my ruling. As much as the issues are very important and close to all of our hearts, the question is out of order. There are other ways that the member for Solomon can address the matters within the chamber, including during the adjournment debate, 90-second statements and many other forms. I can see that the Prime Minister may well wish to answer, but we have to have questions that are within the standing orders.