Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question, again, is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s previous answer on his taxpayer funded advertising campaign on climate change, when he said, ‘Until something is approved by a minister, it hasn’t been approved.’ Based on what the Prime Minister has just said to the parliament, which minister has approved the expenditure of funds on the design of brochures, on the filming of ads and on the opinion poll testing which underpin the television advertising campaign on climate change which, the Prime Minister continues to tell us, does not exist?

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

As I have indicated earlier to the House—or as the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources indicated—provision was made in the budget for a public information campaign in this area. I indicated in the answer I gave on 23 May that the government reserved the right to engage in a public information campaign on climate change and associated matters, and we do reserve that right. But we as a government have not made any decision on the nature of the campaign.

Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mrs Irwin interjecting

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

Order! The member for Fowler is warned!

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

And until a decision is made to improve the communication of a campaign—

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

Order! The Prime Minister has been given the call. The Prime Minister will be heard.

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

I simply repeat that, if particular material is produced for public distribution on this subject, that material will be practical, it will be informative and it will be helpful to the wider community.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Under standing order 104, the question was ‘Which minister?’ The Prime Minister has not addressed it.

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

Order! The Prime Minister is in order. I call the Prime Minister.

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

It remains the case that no minister has approved material for distribution.