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 reports in the Herald Sun of a panicked, two-hour long extraordinary meeting of the National Party last night. Following this meeting, for the first time in the history of Liberal-National coalitions, three Nationals ministers in the cabinet failed to vote for the cabinet position. What are the consequences—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure is bellowing in my right ear. I am trying to hear the question. Can members please be quiet, at least while the question is being asked. The Leader of the Opposition will start his question again.

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 reports in the Herald Sun of a panicked two-hour long extraordinary meeting of the National Party last night. Following this meeting, for the first time in history of Liberal-National coalitions, three Nationals ministers in the cabinet failed to vote for the cabinet position. What are the consequences in the Prime Minister's government for cabinet ministers who fail to vote for the cabinet position?

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

I thank the honourable member for his question. Dealings in the Liberal Party room are not the subject of questions in the House, or at least in accordance with standing orders, let alone asking me about deliberations in the party room of a party of which I am not a member. It really is extraordinary. I can understand dealing with the Byzantine politics of the Labor Party following all the factions, but you would think the honourable member opposite would have worked out that I am in the Liberal Party and that the Deputy Prime Minister is in the National Party.

Cutting right to the chase, the coalition cabinet, my government, my cabinet of which I am the Prime Minister and my colleague, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the Nationals, resolved to extend indefinitely the ban on the Adler shot gun that had been previously subject to a sunset clause. That was a cabinet decision.

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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

The member for Moreton is warned as well.