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

Mr Speaker, I thank you for your advice. I do seek a ruling on the standing orders in relation to this matter. I don't believe that there is a case here to be made that using the words 'weakest and most incompetent government since the Whitlam government' are offending the standing orders, and I don't believe it's in order for a ruling on that basis to be made. I'm very happy to assist you, of course, in the orderly conduct of the chamber, but the opposition can't be put into a position where we can't describe the government as we believe they should be described. It's not a personal reflection on the Prime Minister. It's not an inference. It's not an allegation. It is a description of the government. I can recall many instances against the Howard government, against the Rudd government and against the Gillard government where similar language was used and on subsequent occasions ruled in order by the Speaker of the day. If it is the position that you believe it is that you require us to take this course of action, then I'm asking under the standing orders that you make clear that this is a ruling.

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