Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Public Accountability and Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Human Services. I refer the minister to his unequivocal support for the Medibank Private sale five minutes before the Prime Minister deferred it; I refer him to his unequivocal support for the Snowy Hydro scheme sale five minutes before the Prime Minister dumped that; and I refer him to his claim yesterday that there is no skills shortage in Australia—again, five minutes before the Prime Minister announced the funding package in an attempt to repair a decade of neglect. Why can’t the minister keep up with the government’s backflips?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. The standing orders together with the House of Representatives Practice state that long preambles such as the one given to that question are out of order and that the point of the question must be reached in a seemly and timely manner.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister was not asked a question in relation to his ministerial responsibility. I believe the question is out of order.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on the point of order: each of the statements in the question from the member for Wills are statements that the minister made in his capacity as minister. Are you suggesting he made those statements in his private capacity as a citizen of this country; and, if so, why were they broadcast by the media as statements from the minister?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business is well aware that the standing orders are quite clear—that the minister will be asked questions on matters which relate to his or her ministerial responsibility in relation to public affairs and proceedings pending. They must be matters for which the minister has ministerial responsibility. The member for Wills wishes to rephrase his question.

Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Public Accountability and Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Mr Speaker. Having regard to your ruling, the Minister for Human Services expressly commented on the skills shortage and other issues in the context of his portfolio. So I again refer Minister Hockey to his claim yesterday that there is no skills shortage in Australia, five minutes before the Prime Minister announced the funding package. Why can’t the minister keep up with the government’s backflips?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That question is in order. I call the minister.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on the point of order: notwithstanding that you have now called the minister, I want to refer back to your previous ruling, Mr Speaker, which ruled the first two parts of the question out of order.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Fraser will resume his seat. The first parts clearly had ironic parts, which standing order 100 refers to. But the question as rephrased is now in order.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr McMullan interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The first two parts I have ruled out of order. I am calling the minister.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Your first ruling contained a very important precedent insofar as you said that questions could relate only to things within a minister’s portfolio. In fact, they may also relate to public affairs with which they are officially connected. Therefore, public statements made by ministers about public affairs are matters about which they can be asked.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ruled the first two parts out of order because they contained ironic expressions. I call the minister.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This year the Australian government will be spending around $2½ billion on skills development in addition to the $837 million announced by the Prime Minister today. We make no apology for helping to skill up the Australian workforce. We make no apology for helping to create jobs. And all the better that higher wages come with those jobs.