Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. I note Holden managing director Mike Devereux's confirmation this morning that no decision had been made on Holden's future in Australia. I also refer the Acting Prime Minister to this article from the Sunday Mail, which states the member for Mayo has briefed media outlets about 'Holden's apparent decision and demise'. When will the government put a stop to the damaging backgrounding about Holden's future by so-called senior ministers?

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

Madam Speaker, that question does not fit within the standing orders. It is speculative, it is hypothetical, it is full of argument, it does not make any attempt to actually elicit an answer and I suggest to you that it is out of order.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The point that Leader of the House makes is perfectly valid. It is not a question that is within the power of the Acting Prime Minister to be responsible for and therefore it is out of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I am trying to work out why the Acting Prime Minister is not responsible for the government putting around backgrounding that will damage Holden's future—it is action by the government.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. It is out of order in that it is not the responsibility of the Acting Prime Minister. I call the honourable member for Pearce.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you are about to make the same point of order, then you will resume your seat. If it is a different point, I will hear it.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, is it the case that we can no longer ask questions of the Acting Prime Minister or the Prime Minister about the behaviour of their ministers?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order; it is a question.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He is accountable to the parliament for the actions of his ministers.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are permitted to ask questions of ministers in relation to things for which they are responsible. The member will resume his seat.

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

Madam Speaker, I am sure you have this well in hand, but I think the point that the Manager of Opposition Business might need to consider is that the Acting Prime Minister, or even the Prime Minister if he were here, is not responsible for the editorials in Sunday newspapers that are speculating about statements or otherwise of members of the front bench. It is not a matter that goes to his responsibilities. Even if the Prime Minister were here, he could not answer it either.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the House. There is no point of order. I have ruled the question out of order, and we will hear from the member for Pearce.