Peta Murphy Dunkley, Australian Labor Party
10:03 am
I move:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Dunkley from moving the following motion immediately—That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) the Member for Bowman has reneged on his commitment to resign from all parliamentary positions, and the Prime Minister has failed to force him to do so; and
(b) by refusing to act, the Prime Minister is tacitly endorsing the Member for Bowman's behaviour; and
(2) therefore, calls on the Prime Minister to explain to the House why he has not discharged the Member for Bowman from the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training.
This government will be judged on its actions, not its words, because its words mean nothing. No-one on that side of the chamber has acted on their—
Rob Mitchell McEwen, Australian Labor Party
The minister, on a point of order?
Trevor Evans Brisbane, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management
In light of the Speaker's ruling less than half an hour ago, I'd ask you to consider whether this motion had been considered already by this House. I would contend that, while this motion uses different words, it's still substantially the same issue as that which has been already determined by this House on a number of occasions.
Rob Mitchell McEwen, Australian Labor Party
I don't think so. The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order?
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts
To the point of order: I'd invite those opposite to name a single occasion when the House has considered whether or not the Prime Minister should make a statement to the House on this issue, which is what this motion calls for. If you can name what day the House has resolved that then by all means do so.
Rob Mitchell McEwen, Australian Labor Party
The Manager of Opposition Business is correct. It is substantially different to what was released earlier in the last one, so I'll allow the member for Dunkley to continue.
Peta Murphy Dunkley, Australian Labor Party
From backbencher to backbencher and minister to minister, you decried the member for Bowman's actions. But you won't put actions behind your words, because you can't be trusted.
Rob Mitchell McEwen, Australian Labor Party
The member for Dunkley will resume her seat.
Trevor Evans Brisbane, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management
10:05 am
Deputy Speaker, given your determination, I move:
That the member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
The question is that the member for Dunkley be no further heard.
Is the motion seconded?
Kristy McBain Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party
10:13 am
I second the motion. This is indefensible and shameful. The Australian public deserve better.
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Eden-Monaro will resume her seat. The minister has the call.
Trevor Evans Brisbane, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management
10:12 am
I move:
That the member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
10:14 am
The question is that the member be no longer heard. Just while I await the tellers to complete the count, I remind all members, as I did last night, of my statement about the sitting arrangements—member for Hughes, this is directed at you. It is important that you sit in your own seat. In the case of the crossbench, there are specific seats allocated to you. Don't bother moving now. But I just want to be very clear: it's important people sit in their seat. It's not my decision; it's the health advice that we all need to follow.
Tony Smith Speaker
10:15 am
The question now is that the motion moved by the member for Dunkley be disagreed to.