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

The question is to the Prime Minister. When will the Prime Minister's sack the Minister for Human Services? Just as with the former Special Minister of State and the former minister for cities, isn't the Prime Minister waiting for parliament to rise before he takes out his trash, because he is too arrogant to see one of his ministers forced to resign whilst parliament sits?

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

I caution the Leader of the Opposition about some of the language in that question. I am not going to ask him to rephrase it; I am just going to caution him, given his seniority as Leader of the Opposition. Some of that language is unacceptable. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I will not detain the House by repeating the remarks I made in the answer to the previous question. I will simply summarise it this way: the Leader of the Opposition knows full well, as does everyone who has taken an interest in this matter, that I am dealing with it precisely in accordance with the code of ministerial standards. Advice is being sought from the secretary of my department, as is appropriate. When the secretary provides his advice to me I will then take whatever steps are appropriate in the light of that advice. The Leader of the Opposition is as convincing in his indignation as he was in his defence of the lettuces of Australia.