House debates Questions without Notice: Additional Answers
National Security
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:44 pm
I wish to add to an answer. I am advised that, in fact, shortly before question time the Secretary of the Department of Social Services, Mr Finn Pratt, did refer the matter that the member for Isaacs asked me about to the Australian Federal Police and asked the commissioner to accept the matter for investigation.
Tony Smith Speaker
The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
As I have indicated to the Prime Minister and to you, to make sure that the scrutiny of question time is not affected in any way, I ask for an indication from the government as to what time they now intend to close question time.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
Ten past three.
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
What a joke!
Tony Smith Speaker
I say to the Leader of the House, the Manager of Opposition Business and the member for McMahon—
Mr Pyne interjecting—
The Leader of the House will cease interjecting; I am addressing the House. We have had enough disruption for today. The length of question time is in the hands of the Prime Minister. We have raised this point many times before. That is a matter for the Prime Minister. The Practice is very clear. We are going to proceed with question time now.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
We're just asking for an indication.
Tony Smith Speaker
You raised a point of order that was not a point of order. We have begun question time again. The Prime Minister has added to an answer. We are going to proceed with question time, and the member for Durack has the call—
Mr Shorten interjecting—
The member for Durack, Leader of the Opposition, was asking the question that no-one could hear, so I think it would be passing strange for me to not allow the member for Durack to ask her question that was drowned out.