Laurie Ferguson (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Attorney-General has today announced that the Abbott government wants to give bigotry its blessing in Australia. Is it the intention of the government to allow a person to publish or broadcast racially derogatory comments which offend, insult and humiliate?

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I understand that you are giving licence to the opposition because the Prime Minister is also generously prepared to answer these questions, but the simple truth of the matter is: it is not acceptable for the member for Werriwa to call members of the opposition bigots. For decades, as a Catholic, the people of my faith were subjected to bigotry—

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.

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

and it is particularly insulting to me, let alone new members of the House from races that have come to Australia more recently who also must find it galling, and I will not put up with it personally. I ask you to have him withdraw it.

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

The Leader of the House is making a strong point, but I believe there is a stronger one, and in the interests of free speech I will let the question stand.

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

Fair enough. We are capable of robust debate in this place. I think Australians are capable of robust debate, and that is what I want to facilitate in this country.

Mr Conroy interjecting—

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

The member for Charlton is warned!

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

I want it to be civil—of course I want it to be civil—but in the end the truth is that, when people are arguing things that they feel passionately about, it will inevitably be at times offensive, at times insulting, and I do not believe that the mere fact that someone might be put off by what is being said should mean that the person speaking should feel the full sanction of law against them. That is our position. I reject any suggestion from the member who asked the question that Australia is a bigoted country. We are not. We are a decent and a fair country. Yes, occasionally people give in to unworthy impulse in this country, as in others, but we are the freest, the fairest and the most decent country on earth.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The tactics have clearly been provocative, using the term 'bigot' constantly. In the interests of free speech, I let the question stand. We will move to the next question.

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

I have a point of order, Madam Speaker.

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

On what?

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

First of all, on my right to take a point of order.

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

Please do not shout.

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

Well, Madam Speaker, as you have noted, there is some noise within the chamber.

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

Usually coming from that direction.

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

That does not change the fact that I need to make sure I am heard. Under standing order 86, when someone stands they have a right to be heard on a point of order, and to have the practice whereby you allow the Prime Minister to conclude—

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.

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

Can I not conclude my point of order?

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

No, you may not, and I will tell you why. Resume your seat. I would suggest that the Manager of Opposition Business reads the Practice a little more carefully. He will find a whole section in there which will inform him as to when I may ignore someone who stands on a point of order or cut them short because there is a presumption about what is being done and how it is being used. So I would refer you to the Practice for further reading. I call the honourable member for Petrie.

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

The Prime Minister has not completed his answer? The member for Petrie will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

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. If he has not concluded his answer, this might be the one occasion I can take a point of order.

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

If you do it properly.

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

On the issue of the way the word 'bigotry' has been used—

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

What is the point of order?

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

The point of order is on proper conduct of this chamber, Madam Speaker.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I conclude with this observation. No-one wants to see bigotry or intolerance in our society, but I say this: the best counter to a bad argument is a good one, and the best antidote to bigotry is decency, proclaimed by people engaging in a free and fair debate.