Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's statements in this place last week concerning Senator Payman. When will the Prime Minister expel Senator Payman from the Labor caucus for her disgraceful conduct and her endorsement of the antisemitic chant 'from the river to the sea'?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

The minister for infrastructure. I need to hear the Deputy Leader of the House on a point of order.

Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

Practice at page 553 makes it very clear there's been a longstanding convention that the Prime Minister and ministers cannot be asked questions about the party room.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just going to ask the Manager of Opposition Business to rephrase that question to make sure it's within the standing orders regarding the Prime Minister's responsibilities.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the question referred directly to the comments the Prime Minister made in this House last week about Senator Payman. As the Leader of the House himself argued on 2 February 2021, it should be open to the opposition to interrogate comments made by the Prime Minister.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

As long as the question contains a statement that the Prime Minister has made, it is within—restate the question again, Manager, so I can assist in directing the question, and, as long as it's within the standing orders regarding a statement the Prime Minister has made either through the media or through the House, the question will be in order.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's statements in this place last week concerning Senator Payman. When will the Prime Minister expel Senator Payman from the Labor caucus for her disgraceful conduct and her endorsement of the antisemitic chant 'from the river to the sea'—a very clear, simple question.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, page 553 of Practice makes clear that you can't ask—and the whole question has previously been ruled out; that's what Practice says—when the question is itself about party matters. In the question, there's a reference to a statement, where we hear nothing other than the statement being there. But the entire question itself is about membership of a party, and therefore it is squarely ruled out under Practicesquarely.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

We're trying to deal with this to get the question within the standing orders. Questions like this have been approved and allowed before. It would assist to make sure it's with precedent to make sure that there is perhaps a reference to the statement. Obviously the Prime Minister made a lot of statements last week. Normally when a question includes, 'I refer to the article where the Prime Minister said,' or on the date or the time, then obviously the Prime Minister is able to be correct in his answer.

So I will give you another shot, but I'm just telling you that in light of what I've said, don't read the same question out again, because it will be ruled out and we will go straight to the next question.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Katter's Australian Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, the member for Kennedy on this point of order. We're just going to keep things moving, but—

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Katter's Australian Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House is right in what he said: this concerns where you sit in this parliament. That's a lot different to the party membership, and I think the question is proper.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Kennedy for his intervention and thoughts. I'm just going to make sure that you refer to the statement the Prime Minister made. Otherwise, it would not be reasonable for a minister to know every single statement that they said regarding the matter.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister, who, last week, said in this House:

I met with Senator Payman earlier today. She will not be attending the Labor caucus for the rest of this session.

Since that time, she has again reiterated her support for the antisemitic chant, 'from the river to the sea'. What action will the Prime Minister take consistent with the courage shown by previous Labor prime ministers, or will he continue to be weak?

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! No. We're going to deal with this, just as we've been consistent with reflections on members and the dignity of the House, as the manager himself raised in May. But I will hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, you have previously given instructions to the House, at the request of the Manager of Opposition Business, that if reflections like that were made you would be ruling out questions.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. And given that we had a point of order about something the Treasurer had said in his answer—

Opposition members interjecting—

Order! To get the question through, Leader of the Opposition, I'm going to ask the manager to withdraw the last part and then the Prime Minister is going to get the call.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw the last part, Mr Speaker.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the manager. The Prime Minister now has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will make a few points. One is that 'from the river to the sea' is a statement that has been used by both supporters of Israel and supporters of Palestine who support a single state.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) | Link to this | Hansard source

Where does it say that?

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left will cease interjecting—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's just a fact; it's in the Likud Charter. And—

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

The weakest prime minister since Federation!

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting. Order! We're going to handle this with decorum and respect.

Government members interjecting—

Members on my right! The Prime Minister is going to be heard in silence, just as the manager was heard in silence.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. That is the first point I'd make. The second point I'd make in terms of social harmony is that it is important we take the temperature down in this debate, not seek to inflame it. We just had a question earlier about some of the activity that I condemn. I condemn unequivocally the use of the phrase 'from the river to the sea' because it speaks about a single state. The fact is that the government's position is very clear: we support a two-state solution. Last week in the Senate we moved an amendment to a motion, which then would have said this: 'The need for the Senate to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace.'

Our position is clear: we support the proposal by President Biden and the United States for a peaceful resolution. We support hostages being released. We support civilians being protected. We continue to call for increased humanitarian aid. We continue to argue that every single innocent life matters, whether Israeli or Palestinian. By her own actions, Senator Payman has placed herself outside the privilege that comes with participating in the federal parliamentary Labor Party caucus, and I informed her of that yesterday.

Milton Dick (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Bowman is now warned.