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 visit by the Prime Minister, the Attorney-General and the Minister for Justice to ASIO headquarters, with television cameras in tow. Prime Minister, whose idea was this and what security protocols were put in place for the Prime Minister's photo opportunity?

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

This is a curious question from the Leader of the Opposition. It is a very curious question from the Leader of the Opposition—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

There will be silence on my left!

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

because my ministers and I went to ASIO headquarters yesterday to receive a briefing from the Director-General of ASIO—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

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

The member for Gorton will desist!

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

and the suggestion that is coming from members opposite is that—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I will not put up with that barrage of noise. It is a serious question you have asked, and I will listen to the answer.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a secure briefing room in Parliament House. Why didn't you use that?

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

That includes the member for McMahon!

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

The suggestion from members opposite is that ASIO in some way conducted this briefing unprofessionally. Members opposite are impugning the professionalism of ASIO. The idea that this briefing would have been unprofessional, the idea that there would have been any release of classified information to the media is insulting—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. Does the member for Grayndler have a point of order? I call the honourable member for Murray.