Louise Markus (Macquarie, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the fact that since Labor was elected in November 2007 they have committed more than $350 million to open more than 6,000 new beds in our immigration detention network—far more new detention beds than beds opened in public hospitals. If the government cannot protect our borders, how can anybody be expected to believe that it can get it right in the delivery of the $50 billion NBN?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. Point No. 1: the member for Wentworth has given her the wrong figure about the NBN.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Dr Emerson interjecting

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She should look at that summary of the NBN business case and not use that figure because it is simply not correct. I presume she does want her constituents to get from her mouth the facts and the truth. Point No. 2: I would say to the member who has asked the question—

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would ask that the Minister for Trade withdraw the offensive comment he made about the member for Macquarie, making insulting remarks about her faith and her church.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Those at the end of the table who continue to squabble are not assisting the proper resolution of this matter. On occasions like this when the chair has not heard the remark, there is a dilemma. I observed that there was a very heated exchange between a number of people on both front benches. I am not in a position to make any definitive decision about what was said but on the basis of the exchange, whether it was based on reality or perception, there seems to have been a problem. To resolve that problem and for the proper functioning of the House, I will ask the Minister for Trade to withdraw. This is not in any way a decision on the circumstances.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I made no such comment. I asked the member to show a bit of compassion to asylum seekers. If she finds that offensive, then I withdraw.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The minister will come to the dispatch box and just withdraw.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

I thank the Minister for Trade. Those on the front benches on both sides will sit there quietly.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. In answer to the member’s question, the second point she raised concerned health and what is being done for the hospital system. Let me explain to the member: a great deal more than under the Howard government where we saw the track record of the Leader of the Opposition in delivering cuts. If she cares about the hospital system, and I presume from the comparison she has used in her question that she does, then I can only imagine what she must be prepared to say about the Leader of the Opposition’s cutbacks to hospitals—$1 billion ripped out of our hospital system.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order as to relevance. The question referred to 6,000 new asylum seeker beds and not hospital beds.

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

The Prime Minister is responding to the question. I will listen carefully to her answer and will be assisting in doing that if the interjections cease.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thirdly on the member’s question, the member should note that we have more assets patrolling our borders than ever before. Of course, the government are committed to patrolling our borders, to keeping our nation safe, to operating a mandatory detention system and to working on a long-term regional protection framework. Not for us are the cheap, three-word slogans of the opposition.