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

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Attorney-General from coming into this House and detailing the operation of the secret taxpayer funded political unit operating out of his ministerial office at 70 Phillip Street, Sydney, including:

(1)

the date of the secret unit’s establishment;

(2)

the annual cost to taxpayers of the secret unit’s operation;

(3)

the secret unit’s full staffing arrangements;

(4)

the secret unit’s reporting arrangements;

(5)

the function of the secret unit including its monitoring of non-government media comment and other activities;

(6)

the relationship between the secret unit and the taxpayer funded government members secretariat;

(7)

the relationship between the secret unit and other taxpayer funded units operating out of other ministerial offices;

(8)

the relationship between the secret unit and the federal secretariat of the Liberal Party;

(9)

the relationship between the secret unit and Crosby Textor; and

(10)

the reason that the existence of this unit has been kept secret from the Australian Parliament and the Australian people.

Mr Speaker, how many dirt units—

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

Order! Is leave granted?

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

does this government have?

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

Leave is not granted.

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

How many dirt units? One in Canberra—

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

Order! The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. I call the honourable the Treasurer.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

Question put.

The Clerk:

Government business notice No. 1—Trade Practices—

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. A motion has been moved.

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

I inform the member for Fraser that no motion is before the chair. No motion has been moved. The only motion the House has dealt with was that the Manager of Opposition Business be no longer heard.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Manager of Opposition Business sought leave; leave was not granted. A motion was then moved. I have sought advice. It was my understanding that leave was sought but I am happy to review the Hansard. I believe at this point the House should continue with its business.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot understand how the motion that the speaker can be no longer heard can be moved in response to a request for leave. That is impossible. That cannot happen. Just think about the procedure, Mr Speaker. It is absolutely and logically impossible to move that someone be no longer heard when they sought leave. It is absurd. Once he has been denied leave—

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

Order! I say to the member for Fraser again that I will review the Hansard. But it was my understanding—and it was the understanding of both clerks—that leave was sought.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr Speaker: on what basis did you accept a motion that someone be no longer heard if they had been denied leave?

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

The member for Fraser would be aware—he was in the chamber—that the Manager of Opposition Business was still on his feet and was still speaking. At that point, the motion was that he be no longer heard.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, while I think your ruling is profoundly wrong, can I just say that, when you reflect, you will concede that.

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

Order! The member for Fraser will not reflect on the chair.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am entitled—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

The member for Fraser may wish to move a similar motion.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Attorney-General from coming into this House and detailing the operation of the secret taxpayer funded political unit operating out of his ministerial office at 70 Phillip Street, Sydney, including:

(1)

the date of the secret unit’s establishment;

(2)

the annual cost to taxpayers of the secret unit’s operation;

(3)

the secret unit’s full staffing arrangements;

(4)

the secret unit’s reporting arrangements;

(5)

the function of the secret unit including its monitoring of non-government media comment and other activities;

(6)

the relationship between the secret unit and the taxpayer funded government members secretariat;

(7)

the relationship between the secret unit and other taxpayer funded units operating out of other ministerial offices;

(8)

the relationship between the secret unit and the federal secretariat of the Liberal Party;

(9)

the relationship between the secret unit and Crosby Textor; and

(10)

the reason that the existence of this unit has been kept secret from the Australian Parliament and the Australian people.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

Question put.

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

Is the motion seconded?

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Service Economy, Small Business and Independent Contractors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion. When it comes to the Liberal Party, dirty deals are not done dirt cheap.

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

Order! The member for Rankin will resume his seat.

Peter Costello (Higgins, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

Question put.

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

It would appear, following some preliminary inquiries, that leave was not sought by the honourable Manager of Opposition Business. I regret any inconvenience I have caused to the House.