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

I was unsure whether the Prime Minister had finished his answer. If the Prime Minister is not finished, he should now conclude his answer.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition, on the question of the investment in these very good schools in his electorate, has disputed—

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

Mr Speaker, on a point of order.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I think I created some confusion—I am not sure how. Before greeting our distinguished visitor, I was going to ask the Prime Minister whether he had concluded his answer. The Prime Minister, I think, had anticipated your point of order and had sat down. I call the Prime Minister.

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

Mr Abbott interjecting

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am glad to have our good friend Tony Abbott intervening so volubly as well. I know that he stands up for investment in his electorate as well—and, of course, he strongly upholds parliamentary standards himself.

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

Order! The Prime Minister will refer to members by their electorate.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has objected to a series of questions that have been posed to him about whether he supports investment in each of these schools. He could use the device—and I challenge him to use the device—used yesterday by our good friend the member for Canning, who stood up in this place and said that he supported the investment in his electorate, that he supported the borrowing to support the investment in his electorate and that he supported the schools that were funded as a consequence of that investment and borrowing. The procedures of the House have the facility available for the Leader of the Opposition to stand up at the conclusion of question time and say, on each of these schools that I have presented, whether or not he supports the investment in those schools and the borrowing to underpin the investment in those schools. That is his challenge, pure and simple.