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

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition moving the following motion forthwith—

That the House:

(1)notes that:

(a)the Prime Minister told the House last Thursday about the Gaetjens inquiry, "those inquiries are being made by the Secretary of my department" and "this work is being done by the Secretary of my department" but the Secretary of this department has given evidence to the Senate today that he told the Prime Minister on 9 March that he was putting his inquiry on hold;

(b)the Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to answer whether he has asked his staff if they sought to undermine Brittany Higgins' loved ones; and

(c)the Prime Minister told the House last Tuesday he was briefed by the Commissioner of the Federal Police on the contents of the dossier which contains allegations of serious sexual assault against the Attorney-General but the Commissioner of the Federal Police has told the Senate today he did not brief the Prime Minister on the details of the allegations; and

(2) therefore, condemns the Prime Minister for failing to give straight answers to simple questions about his Government's response to the reported sexual assault of Brittany Higgins and his handling of serious sexual assault allegations against the Attorney-General.

The PM is an empathy vacuum but an accountability black hole.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the Leader of the Opposition be no further heard.

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

Is the motion seconded?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion. Don't ask, so then you can deny. Nothing changes until this Prime Minister steps up—

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

The member for Ballarat will resume her seat.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the member for Ballarat be no further heard.

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

The question now is that the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition be disagreed to. I call the honourable member for Sydney.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't fix it until you're prepared to face it. You want to hear no evil, you want to see no evil, but evil—

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

The member for Sydney will resume her seat. The Leader of the House has the call.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the question be now put.

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

The question is that the question be now put.

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

The question now is that the motion moved by the Hon. Leader of the Opposition be disagreed to.