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

Mr Speaker, earlier today the House of Representatives, by an absolute majority, carried a motion requiring the Leader of the Opposition to immediately apologise and retract his reckless and irresponsible attack in question time yesterday on the Secretary of the Treasury.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Can I first hear this submission from—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, under what standing order—

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

I am trying to listen to what the Leader of the House has to say, and then I will give you the call.

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

At the time, the Leader of the Opposition was not present in the chamber. He is present in the chamber now and perhaps he can take the opportunity to respond to the House’s resolution and, at the same time, he can distance himself from Senator Abetz’s outrageous comments in the Senate earlier today.

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

As I understand it, the motion allowed for a course of action; it did not mandate that course of action.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The House will come to order!

Daryl Melham (Banks, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Whilst the motion allowed a course of action and did not mandate it, I would submit to you that it is incumbent on you to at least put to the Leader of the Opposition the resolution of the House to give him the opportunity to respond to it. That is allowing him, but not mandating him.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The member for Banks will resume his seat. The member for Sturt will resume his seat.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Get on with question time.

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

The member for Paterson will sit quietly! I would simply say to the member for Banks that the motion, as agreed to by the House, is fairly open-ended in that it did not refer at any time to a time to which this motion was to apply. Usually a suspension of standing orders would talk about something immediately. This motion does not, and that is the difficulty that the chair has with the motion.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is precisely for that reason that we would just ask if the Leader of the Opposition is going to comply with the resolution or not—yes or no.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Leader of the House will resume his seat. The Leader of the House has made his point.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What a fool!

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

Order! The member for Sturt will withdraw.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr Speaker.