David Feeney (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Justice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, in the Senate, the Minister for Defence attacked the highly skilled submarine workforce at ASC, stating he 'would not trust them to build a canoe'. Given the minister has failed to apologise for this insulting slur, will the Prime Minister now sack the minister?

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

As I said earlier, in response to a question from the Leader of the Opposition, the minister engaged in a rhetorical flourish. He said the wrong thing in the heat of debate in the Senate. He has admitted that he said the wrong thing. He has withdrawn it. He has apologised. He has affirmed that the Australian Submarine Corporation is an important part of our defence materiel institutional structure. It services our submarine fleet. It is helping to build our air warfare destroyers. Obviously we want it to be in the best possible shape, and that is exactly what is happening—thanks to this government and this minister.

The Australian defence forces are in good shape. They are doing great work right around the world—they really are. Right now they are performing magnificently. They are fighting the world's fight; they are fighting freedom's fight in Iraq and elsewhere.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

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

The member for Bendigo!

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

They deserve support, and that is exactly what they have got from this Minister for Defence, who has my full confidence and should have the confidence of this House. This minister does not deserve to be undermined by members opposite. He does not deserve to be undermined by members opposite just because of a slip of the tongue in the Senate yesterday.

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. In the Prime Minister's answer, he referred to an apology. I would ask him to table the apology, because there was no apology in his statement.

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

That is not a point of order; that is debate. The member will resume his seat. The member for Watson knows very well that is not a proper use of the point of order. If he wishes to debate something, he can do it at another time.