Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Minister, would you just cut the crap and tell Australians how much your Capacity Investment Scheme is costing taxpayers?

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

Speaker, on a point of order: there may well be a replacement available in the gallery, but that's not representative of how we normally conduct question time.

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

No. I'm going to deal with this. We've all tried to improve standards, or I hope that's the goal of all members of parliament. We've had some serious incidents, as people know. That sort of language is beneath the dignity of this House. Manager, if you wish to say that in your own time and your own capacity, go for it. But, while I'm the Speaker, I want certain standards and for the decorum to be lifted and raised. I'm not happy with that sort of level of disrespect not to me but to the parliament. So I'm tempted to rule that question out and just move to the next one. But I want this to be a final warning that people cannot use that language in here. It is completely unacceptable. The member for Warringah on the point of order?

Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) | Link to this | Hansard source

In respect to your comments, Mr Speaker, it's incumbent on him, as the Manager of Opposition Business, to show respect and to show leadership. He should be asked to leave the chamber. That question is not in order. If we can't set the standards here, when will we?

Opposition members interjecting—

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

There is to be no disrespect to members. The manager was heard. The leader was heard. The member for Warringah is going to be shown that same courtesy as well. She's got a right to rise on the point of order. She's done that. We're going to deal with this properly, efficiently and effectively.

Government members interjecting—

Members on my right will cease interjecting. We're going to reset. I've made my views clear. I'm going to ask the manager to restate the question, use appropriate language and show respect in this House.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Will the minister just cut the faecal matter and tell Australians how much Labor's secret Capacity Investment Scheme is costing taxpayers?

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

That is a direct defiance of what I just addressed to the House. I gave the member a fair go and he's completely disrespected me and the House. He'll leave the chamber under 94(a) and we will move to the next question. The language must improve. I respect the traditions and conventions of this House, and I want to uphold them. I'm asking all members to do so, for goodness sake.

The member for Wannon then left the chamber.