Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. What was the role of the former chief of staff to Senator Nash at the event in this photo, where the Prime Minister announced a $16 million grant for Cadbury?

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

The member will resume her seat. The member knows perfectly well that props are not permitted in the chamber.

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. Props were allowed when they were used by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Props are allowed when they are used by ministers over there. You cannot apply a rule to this side of the chamber that you refuse to apply over there.

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

The member will resume his seat. To the Manager of Opposition Business, if he draws my attention to anyone else using props, they will get the same attention.

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

Madam Speaker, a point of order: we have and you don't. That is exactly what happens.

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

The member is reflecting on the chair and I would ask him to withdraw.

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

I am not sure what the reflection is, Madam Speaker. If you can tell me what the reflection is—

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

You are compounding your felony.

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

I will withdraw the reflection if you tell me what it was. I described what has happened in this chamber.

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

You will withdraw or else leave the chamber, one or the other.

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

I withdraw.

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

The member for Ballarat has asked her question but she will not use props again.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a day when 5,000 jobs have been lost at Qantas, I am a little surprised that the opposition are back on this subject. And I am surprised that the member for Grayndler is not equally surprised after the point of order he has just taken. There was an event—it was such a secret that half the press gallery were at it. It occurred in the election campaign last year. At that event, I announced the coalition's support for $16 million worth of tourism infrastructure in Tasmania. Maybe the member opposite could say whether she supports that $16 million.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order, on relevance. The question was: what was the role of the Assistant Minister for Health's former chief of staff at that event? That was the question. What was his role there?

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

If that was simply the question, it would have been very touch and go whether it was in order, but it will stand. Prime Minister, have you completed your answer?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the event that was so secret that half the press gallery were at it, at the announcement of the grant that was so sinister that it was supported by the people of Tasmania, the role of that gentleman in question, as I understand it, is that he was the economist for the company.