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

My question is to the Prime Minister. What did the Prime Minister mean today when he said that there would be political and personal consequences for his ministers who leak from cabinet, and what steps has the Prime Minister taken to identify those ministers on his front bench who are responsible?

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

I want to assure the Leader of the Opposition and members opposition, and the entire Australian community, that this government has a strong and effective policy to keep our country safe. That is all we have—a strong and effective to keep our country safe.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The members for Rankin and Moreton will desist!

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

This strong and effective policy was further strengthened by the decision that the cabinet made last Monday night. It was a decision to strip citizenship from terrorists with dual nationality. I want to repeat that because I would like to hear what members opposite think about this particular decision. It was a decision to strip citizenship from terrorists with dual nationality, and that is the clear policy of this government.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The shrieking will stop!

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

I wonder what members opposite think about that particular policy. As well, we want to have a debate—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I will not tolerate a wall of noise. There will be silence on my left.

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

We want to have a debate about aspects of citizenship because it is—

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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

The member for Moreton can leave right now under 94(a).

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

It is absolutely imperative that the people of Australia understand that citizenship not only has rights, it also has responsibilities, and the fundamental responsibility is—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business has a point of order.

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

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order on direct relevance. The question goes to the illegal action of a cabinet leak. He is not being relevant to it or referring to it in any way.

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

There is no point of order.

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

Actually, there is.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business simply gets up and asserts relevance. If you are serious about calling that point or order, you have to argue the point seriously. You are not doing that.

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

Madam Speaker, to that exact point of order, if I stood up and restated the question, you would tell me that was inappropriate. So I did not do that. I drew attention to the fact—

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

The member will resume his seat. I have told you again and again it is not a legitimate point of order merely to repeat the question. I am never changing my ideas. I said if you wish to argue it—and you might go back and look at some precedents—you have to argue on the point of direct relevance.

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

Let me make this simple point—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs can join the member for Moreton and leave under 94(a).

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

Anyone who raised a gun or a knife to Australians simply because of who we are and the values we have has forfeited his or her right to consider themselves one of us. That is the fundamental point.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will show some respect to the chair or else resume his seat.

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 standing orders are not going to be ruled in any way approaching relevance, of course members will call out. They have no recourse left other than to do so if the standing orders are going to be completely flouted. You cannot have a situation where he is asked about cabinet—

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

The member will resume his seat, and the member for Isaacs has been asked to leave under 94(a).