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

I seek leave to move a motion calling on the Prime Minister to speak immediately for up to 15 minutes to explain the following, amongst other things: whether the Prime Minister has confidence in the Fair Work Australia findings or in the statement given to this House by the member for Dobell, given that they cannot both be right. I seek leave to move that motion now.

Leave not granted.

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

Madam Deputy Speaker, a point of order: given that this matter has now been referred to the Privileges Committee, is it appropriate for the Leader of the Opposition to move a suspension of standing orders—which he does, predictably, every single day—

An opposition member: Why don't you take one?

I have said no to leave—he does it every day. Is it in order for a suspension to be moved?

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Having predicted that this may occur today, I refer to page 540 of the House of Representatives Practice:

Questions must not refer to proceedings of a committee not reported to the House. However, no exception has been taken to questions merely coinciding in subject matter with current committee inquiries. The following private ruling of President Cormack has equal relevance to the House ...

In respect to this issue, questions must not refer to proceedings not reported to the House; however, questions merely coinciding can be debated in the chamber.