Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, may I make a brief comment about the crisis in Western Australia?

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This will be a very brief indulgence, which I have now allowed on two or three occasions. The indulgence will be very brief. The Leader of the House will resume his seat.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said on behalf of the opposition on 18 June:

... I strongly associate—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I will give the Leader of the House the call directly to deal with whatever intervened. There are now two outstanding matters I am going to deal with.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is necessary that I repeat this. I said:

... I strongly associate the opposition with the actions taken by the Australian government in relation to this disaster in Western Australia. We support the decisions taken by the Australian government to support Western Australian families and businesses, and we also encourage all Australians to appreciate very much the gravity of the situation for Western Australians and also for Australia.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has repeated the indulgence. I call the Leader of the House on a point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for confirming the Prime Minister was correct.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Canning made an interjection, as he usually does on numerous occasions during question time. I ask him to withdraw it.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! If the Leader of the House has found it unparliamentary, and I was not in a position to hear it, it would assist if the member for Canning would withdraw.

Don Randall (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was not unparliamentary, Mr Speaker. The word ‘Gollum’ is not unparliamentary.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I now ask the Manager of Opposition Business to apologise to the chair for the unwarranted interjections that continued throughout the earlier aspects of this recent incident.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, there has always been a level of latitude provided to the Leader of the Opposition in relation to matters.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So the Manager of Opposition Business will not apologise?

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will apologise to you every day, Mr Speaker. But I do make this point—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I want it unreserved. I think, in fairness, I do not really need to be reminded by constant interjection of past practice. Did the member for Warringah want to make a personal explanation?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Voluntary Sector) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Mr Speaker.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To help the Leader of the House, I am placing people on notice that I find it very irritating that people think that they can barrack from the sidelines, especially when we are trying to get bits of procedure completed where, I have to say, the levels of preciousness are very high.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left can point all they like; I find it happens right throughout the chamber. Yet again, after question time, we have had incidents that nobody could have predicted on the basis of what had gone beforehand.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Will the Manager of Opposition Business apologise to you as chair?

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have taken that as an apology.