House debates Motions
Prime Minister; Attempted Censure
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
3:09 pm
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
3:10 pm
I move:
That the member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the Leader of the Opposition be no further heard.
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
I second the motion. Don't ask, so then you can deny. Nothing changes until this Prime Minister steps up—
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs
I move:
That the Member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the member for Ballarat be no further heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
3:18 pm
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
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
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
I move:
That the question be now put.
Tony Smith Speaker
3:22 pm
The question now is that the motion moved by the Hon. Leader of the Opposition be disagreed to.