Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I'll make four points. The first point is, you're quite right, that, within this chamber, leaders and ministers can't be asked about decisions to be made by political parties. The question clearly went to that. I refer to previous answers made by prime ministers, ministers and leaders of political parties that those decisions are a matter for the political parties.

The second point I make is to refer to your comments about the concern about some of the language in the question. I just refer to Director-General of ASIO Mike Burgess's comments about turning the heat down wherever possible. We all have a responsibility to do that. I think that it is in Australia's interests that that occur. I say that consistently.

The third point I make is on the reasons why there are currently four members of the Greens political party in the House of Representatives. In the member for Melbourne's case, he is there directly because the Liberal Party gave preferences to Adam Bandt, which, upon Lindsay Tanner's retirement as the member for Melbourne, saw Adam Bandt elected, and he has continued to serve since.

See this speech in context