Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again addressed to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that the Deputy Prime Minister foreshadowed yet another reshuffle when he told Kieran Gilbert on Sky News yesterday that Senator McKenzie would be coming back? Does the Prime Minister intend to return Senator McKenzie to his cabinet?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. I want to congratulate the outstanding members of this House who will soon, this afternoon, be going out to Government House to be sworn in as ministers in our cabinet and in our ministry. I congratulate those members: the new ministers for water and resources and, of course, northern Australia. I congratulate, in particular, the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel.

Coalition governments in this country have given Australians stronger economies, safer borders, stronger national security and a focus on the needs of rural and regional Australians, which is demonstrated by the large number of rural and regional members from the Nationals and the Liberals, who know how to represent their constituents, because they understand the needs of rural and regional Australians. When it comes to drought we are there and we have been there. Those opposite voted against the drought fund.

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

The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister is misleading the House with that last statement. He should withdraw it.

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

There's no point of order.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I withdraw it. What they sought to do was oppose it every step of the way. They had to be dragged kicking and screaming.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

I'll take the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat for a second. I'm very much focused on the question. The Prime Minister had a comprehensive preamble, can I say, but I'm not going to have a situation where we move from the question to interjections. Interjections are disorderly. The Leader of the Opposition's point of order was not a valid one. We're now—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

He did, but I didn't require him to withdraw. I didn't. I actually didn't, because there are other forums of the House to deal with what the Leader of the Opposition was talking about—namely, after question time, as he well knows. I'm just going to ask that the Leader of the Opposition not interject and that the Prime Minister not take interjections and start another debate.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. They are the members who will be sworn into the ministry and the cabinet today. They are the only members who will be sworn into the ministry and the cabinet today. They are very deserving members and they are going to do an outstanding job. This each-way Leader of the Opposition—he's for a drought fund, he's against a drought fund; he's for tax cuts, he's against tax cuts—

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

The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, it goes to relevance. It went to who are the temporary people? Who's going to make way for Bridget McKenzie? Because she's coming back; he said it.

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

The Leader of the Opposition will not debate his question. We once had supplementary questions in the standing orders. We don't anymore, okay? The Prime Minister in conclusion.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So this each-way Leader of the Opposition—he's for things; he's against things—what is the Leader of the Opposition for—

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

No, the Prime Minister will resume his seat.