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

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister has mounted two leadership challenges: one on the very day in which this parliament honoured bushfire survivors and one during a global pandemic. Why is the Deputy Prime Minister only focused on his own job and not on the real needs of Australians, including those in regional communities?

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. I'd first and foremost like to say a huge thank you for the work of the member for Riverina, who did a remarkable job. He is a man who is noted for the dignity in which he conducted his office, a person who we are absolutely certain will go on to further representation of our nation, as a person who can be an incredible asset. Here I am—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The Deputy Prime Minister can just pause for a second. Members on both sides won't interject. They know what will happen if they do. The Deputy Prime Minister has the call.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We know why it's a sensitive issue on the other side, because I think I'm looking at someone here who might be under a little bit of pressure himself. Whilst I was on the backbench, I got to know quite a few people from the Labor Party, and some very interesting conversations were had about their current leader. I tell you what: I'm the member for Grayndler's biggest backer. I am this man's biggest backer. I want you to be there for the long haul—

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

The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat. 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

Pretty obviously on relevance, Mr Speaker. This is a very strange rant. It has nothing to do—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. Both the deputy leader and the Leader of the Opposition will resume their seats. As the Leader of the Opposition sat down he said the question was about jobs. But, whilst the preamble, which I was happy to allow—because I like to allow questions where I think they fit within the standing orders—was, frankly, about two leadership challenges; it did open up the subject. You can't expect me to be very liberal on the question and very strict on the answer. The question was asked in a particular way, and I think the Deputy Prime Minister is in order.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker—and why stop the fun! There's the preamble and there's the outcome. There is the outcome over there. We know where we are off to. I tell you what; when you need the numbers to stay there, member for Grayndler, come and call me, because I am your biggest supporter. We need you there. We are a big supporter of you, because you're going so very, very well! Every time we are struggling with an argument out in the regions—in Wagga, in Beaudesert and in Tamworth—if it is getting a bit uncomfortable for us, we just say that the alternative is Mr Albanese, the member for Grayndler, and then we win the argument and it's all over. It's remarkable.

You were also the Deputy Prime Minister, weren't you? I think it was for about 83 days. I hope you enjoyed that experience because it's as high as you're ever going to get.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just in terms of who we are able to ask questions of. I'm not sure why, but the Prime Minister doesn't appear to have turned up. Does that mean that we have the Acting Prime Minister at the table?

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The Leader of the House.

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

On indulgence, I just wanted to say that we have rectified the situation.

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

There you go—that turned out to be a much quicker way to resolve the point of order than is normally the case when you ask me for a ruling.