Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I have a question for you. Did you receive a letter yesterday from the Chief Opposition Whip nominating opposition members to the Joint Select Committee on Australia's Clean Energy Future Legislation? If in fact you did receive such a letter, the statements by the Leader of the House just a few moments ago that we had not nominated people are false. He should not have made them. I am not allowed to say that he was lying. Nevertheless, Mr Speaker, they were certainly false statements.

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

I received a letter from the Chief Opposition Whip. I do not want to get into the argy-bargy of the debate. I believe that I got it today, but the point is that it is in the system.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! I do not have knowledge of whether the Leader of the House was aware of that or not. All I can say is that I was aware and the procedural requirements were being put in place.

Ms Julie Bishop interjecting—

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

Mr Speaker, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition made an unparliamentary remark about the Leader of Government Business and I ask that it be withdrawn.

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

Again, because of what was happening and on the basis of a reaction, as I have been consistent, I ask the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw.

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

I withdraw.

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

I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. The question about the membership, I would hope, has concluded. The only other observation I will make is that I received the procedural notes for business that is coming forward and it was not in the pack before the start of question time. I am in no other position than to make that comment. If people are aggrieved that I do not have the fuller facts in front of me, that is the basis.

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

If it will assist, Mr Speaker, I am happy to acknowledge that it has now been received during question time.

Opposition members interjecting—

Well, it has!

Opposition members interjecting—

That is okay, is it? That is okay.

Ms Julie Bishop interjecting—

Mr Speaker, I ask the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to withdraw.

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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will withdraw.

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

Mr Speaker, I would not want to withdraw 'Precious petal'.

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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will withdraw.

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

I withdraw 'Precious petal'.

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

Order! That is not the way that a withdrawal is made.

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

Mr Speaker, it was a comma: I withdraw, precious petal.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The comma or not, the precious petal becomes me. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will take her place.

Incredibly, over a fairly minor matter, which I will take full responsibility for, I now have the letter that I passed on to the Clerk. The element that I apologise for was that, yes, it was dated yesterday, it was received yesterday, but I only processed it today. That was not a deliberate action, but that has led to the incident that everybody has been upset by. That has been in the system and has bobbed out now. It will be dealt with straight after we get this over and done with. I accept full responsibility.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

on indulgence—There was no intention whatsoever by anyone on this side of the House to impugn you or your conduct.

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

I am not suggesting that.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our only problem was with the remarks of the Leader of the House who was making a statement which he should not have made because it is simply untrue.

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

The Leader of the House has indicated that he received the procedures at the first instance he got. It is interesting that it is on the head of the Leader of the House to have to move these motions. This is one of the quirks of the way this is done. That is where we are at. Surely we can put this to bed. The points have been made. They have been put in a much more robust or feisty way than I think they needed to be.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point I am trying to make is that it would better serve this House if we did not get the kinds of cheap shots that we get all too often from the Leader of the House.

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

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his place. That is why I am trying to close this discussion down. Nobody has bathed themselves in glory.

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a separate matter, unfortunately during the passage of time, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has left the chamber. I ask that she be asked to return and withdraw two further abusive comments, neither of which she referred to in her withdrawal, which were grossly offensive.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have had much discussion on the question of the comments of the Leader of the House. Basically the standing orders require him at the earliest time possible to come into the House and correct what he said as being in error. The words that he gave earlier were not acceptable.

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

Order! The member for Mackellar will resume her place. All I simply say to members is try to get a feel for the place. A point has been made and an acknowledgement of what the steps that led to this point has been made. Please leave it at that. I regret that because I did not hear the remarks that were made and am not in a position to adjudicate on their offensiveness or whether they were unparliamentary, I can only guide all members to be very careful about what they say. I know that that will not satisfy some people, but that is now the position I am in.

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

Mr Speaker, you will be pleased to hear this is not on the matter that you have been dealing with for the last 10 minutes. During the discussion we had, the Leader of the House used a phrase to describe you which I think is offensive and I ask that he withdraw it. He said that you are a bit slow. I think that is offensive and he should withdraw it.

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

Having been described as a precious petal and having said that I am not a precious petal, I acknowledge that sometimes I might be a bit slow.