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

I have a question for the Prime Minister. I remind her that she has presided over the live cattle export fiasco, announced and abandoned the East Timor solution, promised a surplus and then delivered deficits, introduced a carbon tax she promised not to introduce, created a mining tax that collects no revenue, praised and then demonised foreign workers, and now she proposes the most draconian regulation of the media ever. How can people ever expect better judgement from this Prime Minister?

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

Once again, the Leader of the Opposition finds himself absolutely incapable of dealing with the facts, even when they have been provided in the answer to the question before from the opposition. So, let's go through it again for the Leader of the Opposition, who most clearly was not listening to what I said before.

Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Healthcare) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why would he? Your word is not your bond.

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

I refer him to the respected international organisation Reporters Without Borders.

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

The member for Boothby will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a)

The member for Boothby then left the chamber.

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

I am dealing with a Leader of the Opposition who, of course, dismisses the work of climate change scientists, who brushes aside the work of senior public servants, and who never listens to an expert because he might be confronted with the facts. But I refer him to Reporters Without Borders and I presume that the Leader of the Opposition is not going to describe that international organisation as anything but genuinely dedicated to freedom of the press around the world.

I refer him to the fact that the country in first place in their list as best on freedom of the press is Finland, which has specific laws which dictate to media organisations that they must provide a right of reply and correct factual errors. What the government is proposing is far, far, far less interventionist than that. Finland has a press council which is 30 per cent funded. We are not proposing that the Press Council be anything other than funded by media organisations themselves.

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

I rise on a point of order. The Prime Minister was asked about her own judgement, or her failure of judgement over 2½ years. She should try to answer that question.

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

That is not a point of order.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She is demonstrating it!

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

The member for Mitchell will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a). I am quite happy to have many friends follow him.

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

I am addressing the question because the Leader of the Opposition made an assertion about the government's proposed changes for media reform. If he did not want me to respond to that then he ought not to have asked it. His having asked it, I am going to respond to it. The Leader of the Opposition is deliberately—perhaps I will withdraw 'deliberately' and say 'misleading'—this parliament on the nature of these laws. I direct the Leader of the Opposition to international comparisons so he no longer goes around making absurd, false claims about these laws.

What these laws are about is more Australian content on Australian TV. I think that is a good thing. What these laws are about is enabling our great public broadcasters like the ABC and the SBS to be out there providing news and information in more ways in the modern age. I think that is a good thing. What these laws are about is, in one of the most concentrated media markets in the world, if there are further consolidations in media organisations—

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

I rise on a point of order.

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

A point of order, which I assume was on relevance, from the Manager of Opposition Business, has already been made. The member for Mackellar has risen on a different point of order.

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

Madam Speaker, you said that the Manager of Opposition Business had no point of order, so I presumed that the question of relevance had—

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

He had attempted to make a point of order, I assumed on relevance. I was being kind; otherwise he would not be with us still. The member for Mackellar has the call.

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

I interpreted your answer as being that we had not a question on point of order—

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

You have interpreted it wrongly. The member for Mackellar can resume her seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

In one of the most concentrated media markets in the world, we are ensuring, if there is further consolidation, that there is an independent view taken about diversity of voices in our democracy. Finally, we are ensuring that Australians who have a legitimate claim have a press council to go to. (Time expired)