Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's last answer, in which he said that the President of the Human Rights Commission had lost the confidence of the government. If that is the case, why were you willing to offer her another job?

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

I simply repeat that I am not aware of what is being canvassed in Senate estimates and I am not aware of what might have been canvassed between the President of Human Rights Commission and officials. I simply am not aware.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

Member for McMahon!

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

Members opposite truly believe by these questions that it is somehow right and acceptable to have an inquiry into children in immigration detention when the numbers are under 200, but it was somehow an evil political witch-hunt—these frauds, these hypocrites, think it was an evil political witch-hunt to have an inquiry into children in immigration detention when their policies resulted in hundreds and hundreds of deaths at sea, presumably including children dying at sea. But now it is somehow alright.

Obviously, we question the competence and the judgement of the President of the Human Rights Commission; she somehow thought, after discussions with ministers in the former government, that it was too political to have an inquiry—when this was a real problem.

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

Member for Wakefield!

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

Now that the problem is as it should be, now that it is dissipating, she has the inquiry—

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

Madam Speaker, on a point of order—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat.

I have concluded my answer.

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

I call the Leader of the House.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, under 91(f) of the standing orders, it is quite disorderly for the opposition to have a wall of noise every time the Prime Minister tries to answer a question. If they want an answer from the Prime Minister, they should give him the opportunity to answer the question. And I would dare to ask you to—

Opposition members interjecting—

See, they are doing it now, Madam Speaker; they cannot help themselves. I would ask you to call them to order during the—

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

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. There is no point of order. I am going to give the call to the member for Indi, and I expect some silence so we can hear the question.