Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. How does increasing the price of alcohol through $3.1 billion in higher taxation reduce inflation?

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

As I indicated earlier, in the budget we reduced taxation overall. The tax to GDP ratio went down. That might be another inconvenient fact which those opposite want to stick their heads in the sand and ignore, but it is a fact. But what is even worse is that they are not prepared to face up to their responsibilities when it comes to dealing with teenage binge drinking. They will not face up to that at all. This government will face up to it, because the loophole left by the former Treasurer led to an explosion in teenage binge drinking when it came to alcopops. A 250 per cent increase—we are dealing with it in a responsible way. We are dealing with it with the support of the police commissioners and with the support of all the responsible health authorities out there. But, once again, we have this rank irresponsibility from those opposite, which reflects very poorly on them and shows that there is not a shred of economic credibility left in any of them.

Barry Haase (Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Roads and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You’re a dud!

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

The member for Kalgoorlie will withdraw that remark.

Barry Haase (Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Roads and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I am not sure which word you are referring to.

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

The member for Kalgoorlie knows full well. He will withdraw.

Barry Haase (Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Roads and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I called the Treasurer a dud—

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

Is the member for Kalgoorlie going to withdraw unconditionally or not?

Barry Haase (Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Roads and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I believe he is a dud.

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

The member for Kalgoorlie will leave the chamber for one hour.

The member for Kalgoorlie then left the chamber

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Since when has ‘dud’ been unparliamentary?

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

I have requested the member for Kalgoorlie to withdraw the expression, which at the time I did not think was assisting the conduct of the chamber. He used it twice after the answer was finished. There has been a great deal of interjection throughout the day. I do not think that those types of remarks are assisting the proper conduct of the chamber, and it is not indicative of showing respect to other members of the chamber.

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

Further to the point you have just made on the point of order, Mr Speaker: if ‘dud’ is not unparliamentary, is it not rough to expel the member for using it?

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

In the context of what was happening at the time, I asked for its withdrawal. Therefore, by definition, it was unparliamentary at that point in time. And as the member for Warringah, who has experience as Leader of the House, knows, there is no definitive list of expressions or names. The fact is that, from time to time, it comes down to the context of what is happening in the chamber and it is in the hands of the Presiding Officer. The expression, I believe, was not helpful to the proper conduct of the chamber. I asked that the member withdraw; he chose not to withdraw—that is the reason he was asked to leave the chamber.

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

Mr Speaker, reluctant as I am to continue this, given that the language was not unparliamentary, would you—

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

No, I think that, by definition, if I have asked for the withdrawal then it is unparliamentary at that point in time.

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

Given that you have conceded that it is not generally unparliamentary, perhaps if you now ask the member to withdraw then that may be a better way to proceed, given the explanation?

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

No, in fairness I would say to the member for Warringah that I gave the member for Kalgoorlie ample opportunity. I did ask twice. I am not entering into debate.

Wilson Tuckey (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Just prior to your ruling, the Treasurer made a personal attack on three members of this House. I find it distinctly unhelpful, and I would ask him to withdraw.

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

The member for Solomon has the call.