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

My question is again to the Prime Minister. Mr Speaker, again I stress that I am not making an accusation; I am simply seeking information.

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

Order! The member will get to his question.

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

Can the Prime Minister advise the House whether he provided any support or assistance while in China to Aussie Rent, a company that was co-owned by Mr John Grant?

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

I have no idea what period of time the gentleman is referring to. I will check my records. I have no such recollection. I say to the honourable member that, when it comes to the continued politics of smear in this place, those opposite—

Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and Public Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What have you guys been doing all week?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The House will come to order. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I just say to those opposite: at a time when the nation, its families and its governments are wanting all people in this place to focus positively on how we lift the economy up, how we build up local communities and how we support local jobs, this government, in partnership with others, is in the business of implementing nation building for recovery. I say to those opposite who continue to engage in activities of this nature: we are using our time, our efforts and our energy as a government to support the economy, jobs and small business. What they are doing is wasting the nation’s time and engaging in the activities of fear and smear, with one single objective: to talk the economy down, to try and bring a government down. On top of that, both these campaigns are based on an absolute falsehood in relation to the false, fake and forged email on which basis the Leader of the Opposition has so many, many questions to answer.

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

The member for Warringah, on a point of order?

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

I take it that the Prime Minister will report to the House—

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

Order! The member for Warringah will resume his seat—and he is warned.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Hockey interjecting

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

Is there a problem, Member for North Sydney? The member for Warringah knows that he should approach the dispatch box on a point of order, not to make a debating point.