Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister: for the second time in two days the Prime Minister has refused to answer, when asked, how many executive orders, grants, delegations, appointments and legislative instruments the Deputy Prime Minister has signed or made since the government became aware there was doubt over his qualifications. Why is the Prime Minister acting so recklessly?

Mr Hill interjecting—

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

The member for Bruce is warned.

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

One may well ask why the member for Sydney is incapable of drafting a question. The honourable member's question is based on a premise that the government have doubts about the Deputy Prime Minister's eligibility to sit in the House—and we don't. We are satisfied that he is eligible to sit in the House, so the question is based on a false premise.

One may well ask: Where is the interest from the opposition in energy prices? Where is the interest in the cashless welfare card? Where is the interest in the fact that it was the Labor Party in government through its complacency—confessed to by the member for Port Adelaide, and we do acknowledge he did finally fess up—with reckless disregard for the interests of the people they claim to represent who allowed gas prices to go through the roof—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer?

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

I have.

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

The Prime Minister's concluded his answer. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Government members interjecting—

The Treasurer and the Leader of the House will cease interjecting.

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

There's been a ruling you've previously made concerning preambles, but we're consistently getting a situation now where the preamble is the entire answer and there is no moment of the response that fits the relevance rule.

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

I think if the Manager of Opposition Business reviewed that answer he would find that the beginning of it was very relevant to the question and on the—

Honourable members interjecting—

If members on either side interject while I'm addressing the House on a point of order, they'll pay a very severe penalty. The Manager of Opposition Business will find, if he reviews the answer, that the beginning of the Prime Minister's answer was very relevant to the subject answer. The Prime Minister did there compare and contrast—I know the member for Sydney rose to take a point of order—but it's entirely up to the Prime Minister and ministers how long they wish to use of their three minutes. There is no point of order that can force them to give a shorter answer or a longer answer.