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. This morning, the Prime Minister's Liberal colleague Senator Hume said about the visit of Milo Yiannopoulos:

You know, young man swaggers into Canberra, attention seeking, saying outrageous things and appeasing the far right, and getting some media coverage. Sounds like the coalition party room.

Do his senator's comments accurately describe the government's policy development process under this Prime Minister?

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

I can see why the honourable member was taken by those remarks, because they demonstrated something she obviously lacks, which is a sense of humour. But there is nothing funny about the Labor Party's failure to stand up for Australia's national security. But, having said that, not everybody on the Labor benches is as weak as the Leader of the Opposition when it comes to protecting Australia's security. I saw in the Herald on 4 December a quote from an unnamed Labor MP. They must be sitting here today. I wonder who it is. I think I know who it is. I do! I know who it is. Your style is unmistakable. Really, he is inimitable. No-one else could take him off. The comment is this:

The problem for Sam is that every time you look at him you see someone who has been an agent of foreign influence - and you can't have an agent of foreign influence sitting in the Senate.

That's what that unnamed Labor MP said—brave enough to tell the truth—

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

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

The member for McEwen will leave under 94(a).

The member for McEwen then left the chamber.

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

to Nick McKenzie but not brave enough to put his name to it. I think it's about time they stood up—

An opposition member 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? The Prime Minister has concluded his answer.