House debates Questions without Notice
Minister for Justice
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
2:39 pm
My question is to the Minister for Justice. A few weeks ago the government lost control of the House when the minister went home early. Yesterday the government voted against itself when the minister was still here and personally in the chamber. Given that the minister has acted against the interests of his government by being absent and by being present, how on earth can this government trust the minister to deal with the serious issues of international crime within his portfolio?
Tony Smith Speaker
That question is—
Opposition members interjecting—
If opposition members stop interjecting, I will be able to rule on the question. Unlike the previous question, that question is just in order.
Michael Keenan Stirling, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice
2:40 pm
I tentatively thank the Manager of Opposition Business for the question. They have been playing these sorts of silly parliamentary games that have absolutely no impact on the lives of the Australian people. Let me go through some things that have actually been happening in the real world, particularly over the last 24 hours, and in this parliament that actually matter for the lives of the Australian people.
Mr Bowen interjecting—
Michael Keenan Stirling, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice
In Sydney yesterday the joint counterterrorism team managed to disrupt the 11th attack on Australian soil within the past two years.
Dr Aly interjecting—
Michael Keenan Stirling, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice
They have been able to do that because this government has been supporting them through the legislative powers that they need and the resources that they need to get their job done. We have had a very successful bilateral visit from the Prime Minister of Singapore and this morning the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police sat down with his Singaporean counterpart and signed a memorandum of understanding—
Mr Bowen interjecting—
Michael Keenan Stirling, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice
that we would work more closely with Singaporean law enforcement authorities about tackling transnational and organised crime, particularly those multinational organised crime syndicates that smuggle drugs into Australia. So, whilst the Labor Party wants to play stupid parliamentary games, we will get on with the business of improving the lives of the Australian people.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
During the Minister for Justice's excellent answer the member for Cowan made a very unparliamentary remark. I ask her to withdraw it.
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Jagajaga will cease interjecting. The member for Grayndler will cease interjecting. The Leader of the House would well appreciate that one of the many reasons I do not want a wall of interjections is so I can hear these things. I am now placed in the position I normally am in, and that is to ask the member for Cowan whether she made an unparliamentary remark.
Anne Aly Cowan, Australian Labor Party
Mr Speaker, I withdraw that remark.