Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister and follows part of the answer he gave to a previous question. Did the Prime Minister previously say that opposing the dictator Saddam Hussein did not in itself justify the war?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I said a range of things and so did those who sit opposite. I will return to the speech made by the member for Griffith because it is apposite to this very debate.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Macklin interjecting

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

Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned!

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He said:

This person, Saddam Hussein is no Sunday school, Sabbath school teacher. This is a seriously evil dude. Let us not pretend he is anything other—

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

Before calling the member for Grayndler on a point of order, I will point out that the Prime Minister is entirely in order in answering that question.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my point of order goes to relevance.

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

The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has only just begun to answer his question. He is speaking to the subject of the question. He is in order and he deserves to be heard.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Griffith said:

Three years ago it was the belief of the government, based on intelligence assessments, that Saddam did possess weapons of mass destruction. That was the belief and that was the belief of our coalition partners. It was also my belief, articulated in the major speeches I made at the time, that we should—

Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Crean interjecting

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

The member for Hotham is warned!

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

always take into account our close alliance and friendship with the United States in determining our attitude on these matters. I also drew very heavily to attention the evil character of the Saddam Hussein regime. I do not resile in any way from the decision the government took three years ago, nor will I be reluctant in reminding this House that if the advice of the Labor Party had been followed Saddam would still be brutalising Iraq.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Members are holding up their own question time.