Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
5:57 pm
I seek leave to move the following motion:
That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Grayndler to speak in response to the Leader of the House tabling a letter from the Prime Minister concerning his misleading the parliament.
This scandal just keeps getting deeper. This was a prepared statement by the Prime Minister today where he put the words of Ben Fordham into the mouth of a Victorian police officer. The fact is that this just continues—
Tony Smith Speaker
I will just clarify: did the Leader of the Opposition seek leave?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
I did and I'm getting a good run here! If they're not paying attention, that's their fault.
Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
Leave is not granted.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
I suspect I got out more than I will get out now. I move:
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended that would prevent the member for Grayndler moving the following motion immediately:
That the House:
(1) notes that;
(a) today in Question Time, the Prime Minister told the House that in March 2013, a then detective in Victoria Police’s fraud squad, Ross Mitchell, made a statement about former Prime Minister Julia Gillard;
(b) that statement was made word for word by radio host Ben Fordham-a fact which is clear from The Australian newspaper article by Hedley Thomas dated 27 April 2013 which reports that statement; and
(c) in attempting to defend a Minister who has deliberately misled the Parliament, the Prime Minister today has misled the Parliament; and
(2) therefore, the House calls on the Prime Minister to do what is required by the House and his own Ministerial Standards and attend the Chamber to correct his misleading statement at 9.30 am tomorrow.
The fact is that this government, in trying to protect this minister, is bringing down the Prime Minister.
Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
6:00 pm
I move:
That the member no longer be heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the Leader of the Opposition be no further heard.
Mark Butler Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy
I second it. Misleading the parliament has become an infectious disease on that side of the House—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Hindmarsh will resume his seat. The Leader of the House.
Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
I move:
That the member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the member for Hindmarsh be no further heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
6:10 pm
The question now is that the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition be agreed to. The member for Isaacs.
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
This—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Isaacs will resume his seat. The Leader of the House.
Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
I move:
That the question be now put.
Tony Smith Speaker
6:13 pm
The question now is that the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition to suspend standing orders be agreed to.