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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister of her claims that Australian business is rorting the 457 visa system. Why did the Prime Minister waive the requirement that her communications director, a 457 visa holder, obtain the security clearance required to work in her office? Isn't the Prime Minister being a hypocrite when she, to use her own words, is rorting the 457 visa system?

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

Of course all the staff in my office have met all relevant requirements. I am unsurprised to get a question as petty and ridiculous as this on a day in which we have seen 71,500 jobs created for Australians. Nothing could make the contrast more stark. We are a political party focused on work and opportunities for Australians, as compared to this opposition with its adolescent, student politics games and its cheap personality politics. We will get on with the job of creating jobs.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. On the question of relevance, the Prime Minister wants us to believe it was impossible to find an Australian worker to carry out that job in her office. She waived the requirements—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Points of order are not an opportunity for debate.

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

Once again, in the face of such silly displays from the opposition, we will get on with focusing on jobs and opportunity for Australians. We understand that, on that side of the parliament, your focus is on cutting back benefits for Australian families and refusing to put Australians first for job opportunities.