Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. On Monday, the former Liberal Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett, described the Prime Minister as 'an individual who has always put self-interest before anything else'. When even long-term Liberal leaders like Jeff Kennett know he puts his own ambition before the interests of Australia, isn't it clear that the Prime Minister will sell out anything and any government policy for his own ambition?

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The Prime Minister is not responsible for the comments being made by a person who is not even a member of the House, has no elected office and is not a member of the government. Therefore, the Prime Minister should not be required to answer that question. He is not responsible for the comments of Jeffrey Kennett.

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

Mr Speaker, the objection from the Leader of the House goes to the context of the question. The question itself goes directly to government policy. Midway through, we will probably get told it is a new question, and he will ask one himself. But the question—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.

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

Mr Speaker, the question did not ask about any particular policy. It was a general slur on the Prime Minister. It did not ask about any particular policy. It did not refer to health or education. It was just a personal attack on the Prime Minister. Therefore, the Prime Minister should not be required to answer it.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The very last part of the question endeavoured to go to the Prime Minister's responsibilities. I do not believe it got there. I am going to give the member for Ballarat an opportunity to rephrase the question.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question again is to the Prime Minister. On Monday, the former Liberal Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett, described the Prime Minister as 'an individual who has always put self-interest before anything else'. When even long-term Liberal leaders like Jeff Kennett know he puts his own ambition before Australia's, is it not clear that the Prime Minister will sell out any policy, including health policy, climate change policy and marriage equality policy, in order to promote his own ambition?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will address the last part of the question.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The honourable member's question—if that is a fair description of it—is devoid of any detail. It is just another pointless political slur, a pointless political point. Here we have the parliament of Australia assembled, the government and all of its ministers here ready to answer questions about any aspect of their portfolios. You could ask about the free trade agreement, you could ask about the NBN, you could ask about health, you could ask about education, you could ask me about environment policy, you could ask me about water—that went so well yesterday; it was terrific—but instead we have questions—

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ballarat will resume her seat.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order, Mr—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have not listened to my earlier comments on this matter. There is no point of order. The member for Ballarat is being frivolous.

Opposition members interjecting—

The member for Chifley is warned!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs is not here, but as a distinguished silk he would know that it is not often that a witness is confronted by a cross-examiner so inept that he or she has to reframe the questions. What is the question?

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gorton is warned!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Seriously, what is the question? The government's policies are sound. All of the government's policies have my support. The government will confront the big economic challenges that face Australia and we will ensure that, with our policies as they develop, we deliver continued strong economic growth. We have a vision for strong economic growth in Australia, and the free trade agreement of which we have been speaking a lot this week is a key part of that.

But the Labor Party, unable to add any specifics to their questions, just want to provide some sort of generalised political attack to which all that can be given in response is a 'Please have another go' type of answer. If the honourable member wants to ask me or any of my ministers a question with any specifics about any part of our portfolio, we will endeavour to answer it. But what she provides is simply an allegation, the sort of pointless piece of argument that so frustrates Australians. The thousands of Australians who watch question time would dearly love to see a proper political debate about the real issues. The slanging match should be over. The honourable member, with great respect, could ask a question that enables an informed answer to be given.

Ms King interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Ballarat that she has been warned. She is on her final warning.