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

My question is to the Prime Minister. This year there have been allegations that One Nation failed to declare the donation of a $100,000 plane, adopted a constitution which breached electoral laws and conspired to defraud electoral authorities. When allegations against One Nation have been mounting for months, why is it that when Labor raised this issue yesterday the Prime Minister had taken no action? Is the Prime Minister dragging his heels because he is more interested in One Nation preferences?

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

Before I call the Prime Minister, I listened carefully to that question. It had a very long preamble and only one question at the end—or two—the substance of which, by my hearing of it, the Prime Minister does not have responsibility. I will hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

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

Mr Speaker, if I may, I will refer to the first of the two questions within the question, which specifically went to yesterday's question to the Prime Minister and asked: when Labor raised this issue yesterday, why had the Prime Minister taken no action at that point? That is clearly within his responsibility.

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

The second question I am very clear on, and I acknowledge that my ruling on that is not being contested. I do have to say: I have spoken about the length of preambles and I have spoken—probably not that eloquently—about how you cannot just simply badge something at the very end. I do have to say: I flag that for a reason. We are at the beginning of question time, and I am not prepared to allow the question in that form; I am really not. We will move on.