Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Firstly, welcome back to Australia! The coalition thanks the full-time president of COP31 negotiations for taking the time today to make himself available and accountable to the Australian parliament in his capacity as part-time energy minister. How many—

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

The opposition leader will pause. The Leader of the House, on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The standing orders are clear on references to members. Page 514 of the House of Representatives Practice makes it clear, and the reference that was just given is not referring to someone by their title and is out of order.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, the leader did refer to the minister by his correct title, and she is allowed to describe the minister in any way she likes. It was part of his title, and, indeed, he is the president as well. The president of COP is correct. You made him the president of COP. I mean—

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

Thank you, Manager, for your assistance. I thank the Leader of the House. We're just going to deal with this. People need to be called by their correct titles. To assist the House to move forward, if the Leader of the Opposition could move to her question, and we don't have the commentary when we're asking questions, that would help everyone. In particular, address everyone by their correct titles. We don't need any other descriptors. Otherwise, we're going to get into dangerous territory. So let's just get on with the question and move forward. Let that be a lesson to everyone. We are just going to ask questions of the minister without descriptors. The leader can continue with her question.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question—

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

Just ask the question. We don't need the early part.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is interrupting. My question in continuation is: how many—

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

Order! If the Prime Minister can cease interjecting and the member for Hume. We haven't got through the first question, and I'm keen to hear the question, as I'm sure the minister is. Let's just get to the question.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question in continuation is: how many days of parliament will the part-time minister miss in 2026, and what will be the cost to Australian taxpayers of the minister's full-time presidential duties?

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate very much the question from the Leader of the Opposition. When you are a patriotic party of government, you celebrate national successes whether you are in opposition or in government. That's the approach the Labor Party in opposition took when John Howard chaired APEC with our support. It's the approach the Labor Party took when Tony Abbott chaired the G20 with our support. It's the approach the Labor Party took to support the appointment of Mathias Cormann as secretary-general of the OECD. I'm even old enough to remember the Labor Party in government supporting the appointment of Malcolm Fraser as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. I'm even old enough to remember that!

If you are serious party of government, you want your country to do well whether you are in opposition or in government. I'm pleased that this government's achievements have been recognised with the appointment of COP negotiations president. I am pleased about that. It tells you a lot about the modern Liberal Party. In a domestic debate they say, 'Well, look, we shouldn't take any action on climate change because we're just one per cent of emissions.' When you say that maybe Australia could play an international role and help the rest of the world to decarbonise, that's a terrible thing too. We couldn't possibly have that!

This is a testament to Australia. It's a testament to my team. I thank the assistant minister, the member for Fremantle, who represented Australia at the first week of COP very well. I thank my special envoy, Kate Thwaites, the member for Jagajaga, who represented me at the G20. They will both continue to represent me at other international meetings as well.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition has a point of order. Can I ask everyone to assist the House? I will have to action if this kind of behaviour—

Honourable members interjecting—

I don't know what's so funny. If this behaviour continues, I want to be crystal clear to everyone, I'll have to take action. It's not sustainable for this kind of—

Opposition members interjecting—

If you'd stop interjecting I can give the call to your leader.

Opposition members interjecting—

You're not being rude to me. The Leader of the Opposition is entitled to raise a point of order, but I would like her to do it respectfully and for everyone to listen to her point of order.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is on relevance. I appreciate the minister's description of his various globetrotting duties, but the question was tight: how many days of parliament will the minister—the part-time minister—miss next year, and what will be the cost to Australian taxpayers of his full-time presidential duties?

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

The member for Hume is really pushing the limits today. I'm trying to be reasonable with everyone, but you're making it exceptionally hard with your behaviour. I ask the minister to continue and to be directly relevant to his question.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition asked me about ministerial travel and pretty clearly criticised me going to Brazil last week and travelling back yesterday. Apparently, international trips aren't appropriate! This is a recent development, because on 11 July 2021 the minister for the environment announced that she would be travelling overseas as part of the Morrison government's campaign to stand up for Australia's interest and support the Great Barrier Reef communities and tourism operators ahead of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting. The press release said, 'Minister Ley will visit a number of countries.' The press release does not tell us how many countries she visited; we had to read the Australian two weeks later to find out 'Australia's minister for the environment, Sussan Ley, travelled to more than a dozen countries in recent weeks to secure support'. That's what you call a copout.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! When the House comes to order—members on my right. The Minister for Social Services is getting close to leaving the chamber. The Manager of Opposition Business, we're just trying to—

Well, don't be provoked. Sit in silence, and everyone will be a lot stronger for it. When the House comes to order we will hear from the honourable member for Solomon.