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

The safety of citizens is the first responsibility of government. Cabinet is the highest level of government. Given that leaks from cabinet are a criminal offence punishable by two years in prison under section 70 of the Crimes Act, what action has the Prime Minister taken to address the serious leaks from his cabinet regarding national security?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

There will be silence on my right! The Prime Minister will resume his seat until his own frontbench is quiet. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I am absolutely delighted to get a question from the Leader of the Opposition about last week's cabinet meeting, because last week's cabinet meeting made a decision—a clear decision to strengthen our national security.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

That is enough! The member for Gorton! The Prime Minister has the call. There will be silence.

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

Last week's cabinet meeting decided that this government will strip citizenship from terrorists with dual nationality. That is what we decided. We made a clear decision last week to strip citizenship from terrorists with dual nationality—

An opposition member: There was nothing clear about it! Where is the bill?

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

The member for Corio!

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

because we believe that anyone who takes a gun and a knife to an Australian because of who we are, has utterly forfeited any right to be considered as one of us. What was the Leader of the Opposition's response?

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

The member for Wakefield!

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

He said that was dog whistling—that is what he said.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The member for Jagajaga will desist!

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

He said that stripping the citizenship from terrorists with dual nationality was dog whistling. That is what he said. We do not believe it is anything other than a very sensible approach to protecting the people of Australia. That is what it is. For the Leader of the Opposition, the alternative Prime Minister of this country, to describe as dog whistling something which is designed to protect our national security just goes to show how unfit for leadership this man really is.

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

The member for Wakefield is warned.

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

I am pleased that the Leader of the Opposition has finally learnt what we have been saying to him for many months now—that the safety of our country is the first priority of government. I am pleased that he has so learnt that that he has repeated it twice in question time today.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The member for Jagajaga will desist, as will the member for Parramatta.

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

What I want to hear from the Leader of the Opposition right now is his statement that, yes, he supports stripping citizenship from terrorists with dual nationality, because if he is not prepared to back that you would have to say he just does not get it when it comes to the national security of our country.

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

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

The member for Kingsford Smith is warned. Before I call on the next question, I simply say that I know this is the Thursday of the second sitting week and behaviour is usually appalling on that day, but I am not intending to tolerate it.