Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

The fault for poor leadership cannot be laid entirely at the feet of the Prime Minister because he went on summer holidays, as some people have suggested. The Prime Minister can't be on the job 24/7. He has an entire government to run the country. The entire government does not go on holidays. We had an Acting Prime Minister: the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg. We had a Deputy Prime Minister—and still have a Deputy Prime Minister—Michael McCormack, who, oddly, was not considered the right person to step up to the top job. Mr McCormack's leadership qualities are, however, good enough for the National Party it seems. Australia had two leaders on the job—well, one-and-a-half. Australia was not without an Acting Prime Minister; we were without leadership. If we are going to add to the fires with flaming tiki torches of our own, One Nation would ask this place to direct that effort where it needs to go. We need to hold that acting leadership to account. More importantly, we need to plan for the next fire event—now.