Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Youth and Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. I refer the minister to his recent official four-page newsletter, circulated to voters in his electorate of Wentworth, boasting about the government’s environmental credentials. Can the minister explain why this newsletter does not once mention the Prime Minister by name nor make—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! The member for Sydney has the call.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Youth and Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Shall I start again, Mr Speaker?

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

The member for Sydney has the call and the member for Sydney will be heard.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Youth and Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister explain why this newsletter does not once mention the Prime Minister by name or make any reference to the Howard government?

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Standing order 98(c) says that this is not a matter which is associated with any of the minister’s official duties at all and is quite out of order.

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

The question relates to a publication by the minister. The question is in order. I call the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for the question, and I am glad that she pays attention to my newsletter—

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

It’s a good newsletter.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a very good newsletter; the Prime Minister agrees with that. It is a newsletter by me as the local member, and naturally it focuses on me.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Youth and Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I think the Prime Minister wanted me to table it.

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

Yes.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Youth and Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Excellent. I seek leave to table the newsletter.

Leave granted.