Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move the following motion:

That the House:

(1) notes:

(a) the Special Minister of State has admitted on 60 Minutes that he procured a Commonwealth officer to obtain unauthorised copies of the former Speaker's diary;

(b) the Special Minister of State has repeatedly misled the parliament and breached the Prime Minister's statement of ministerial standards; and

(c) the Special Minister of State still has questions to answer about his role in the Ashby affair;

(2) censures the Prime Minister:

(a) for leading a government in which ministers are permitted to breach the Prime Minister's own statement of ministerial standards by misleading the parliament without any repercussions or sanctions;

(b) for awarding the member for Fisher with a job on the front bench for his role as a key henchman in the overthrow of the former Prime Minister;

(c) for his atrocious judgement in appointing the member for Fisher as the minister with responsibility for government integrity; and

(d) for his complete and utter failure to show any leadership and sack the Special Minister of State.

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

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I seek your guidance on this matter. My understanding of the standing orders is that a motion that was moved this morning at nine o'clock is largely the same—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left will not interject when I am endeavouring to listen.

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

The motion that is being moved now is almost precisely the same as the motion that was moved at nine o'clock this morning. My understanding of the standing orders is that such a motion cannot be debated or moved twice in the same sitting day. Therefore, might I suggest that, potentially, it could be out of order for it to be moved at this time, and I ask for your ruling on that.

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

I am going to rule that the motions are sufficiently different, so I will ask whether leave is granted or not.

Leave not granted.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Isaacs from moving the following motion forthwith—That the House:

(1) notes:

(a) the Special Minister of State has admitted on 60 Minutes that he procured a Commonwealth officer to obtain unauthorised copies of the former Speaker's diary;

(b) the Special Minister of State has repeatedly misled the parliament and breached the Prime Minister's statement of ministerial standards; and

(c) the Special Minister of State still has questions to answer about his role in the Ashby affair;

(2) censures the Prime Minister:

(a) for leading a government in which ministers are permitted to breach the Prime Minister's own statement of ministerial standards by misleading the parliament without any repercussions or sanctions;

(b) for awarding the member for Fisher with a job on the front bench for his role as a key henchman in the overthrow of the former Prime Minister;

(c) for his atrocious judgement in appointing the member for Fisher as the minister with responsibility for government integrity; and

(d) for his complete and utter failure to show any leadership and sack the Special Minister of State.

I said yesterday that it was past time for this Special Minister of State to go. It has been time for him to go for days now. It is not clear why this Prime Minister has not put an end to this state of affairs yet. Perhaps he has had his hands full explaining to the world why he is pressing on with the—

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

The member for Isaacs will resume his seat. The Leader of the House has the call.

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

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the member for Isaacs be no longer heard.

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

Is the motion seconded?

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

I second it. The Prime Minister's standards now are even lower than what he advocated during—

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

The member for Watson will resume his seat. The Leader of the House has the call.

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

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the member for Watson be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

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

I move:

That the motion be put.

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

The question is that the motion moved by the member for Isaacs be agreed to.

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

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.