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

With respect for the ruling that you've made, there are two points, I think. One is that if it is not possible for the opposition or any member in this parliament to ask the Prime Minister about a quote that he has made then that undermines the importance of question time. This is the statement that the Prime Minister made at the National Press Club yesterday. Yes, the second part of the question does put the context in which the question was asked; otherwise it wouldn't make sense. So that's why the second part has to be put in there. That's point 1 that I'll make.

The second point I'll make is that if your ruling is to be consistent then every time those opposite ask about alternative views of those on this side of the House those questions are out of order. Those questions are out of order, because what we have on this side of the chamber, day after day, is questions whereby we get responses that go for three minutes: 30 seconds about their policy, then 2½ minutes about us. So, if we're going to go that way, then we understand—

Government members interjecting—

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