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

My question is to the Prime Minister. As the Prime Minister is aware, debate on the marriage equality legislation is taking longer than expected, with worthwhile contributions from all. That's why, a short time ago, I contacted the Prime Minister to make the unusual offer to defer question time today so that we could pass marriage equality as a matter of urgency. Will the Prime Minister join with Labor to get this done as soon as possible?

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

This must be the first time the leader of an opposition has asked that question time be abandoned. It must be the first time. I wonder why!

Ms Husar interjecting—

I'll say this: in the course of this week, many hours have been taken up with Labor Party motions about citizenship and penalty rates, matters that could properly have been dealt with after marriage had been dealt with, but, no—

Ms Husar interjecting—

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

The member for Lindsay has been warned.

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

the Labor Party rushed their motion in in the hope that they would get it voted on before the member for New England made his return. That bit of fancy footwork slipped up. The government is accountable in question time and, indeed, so is the opposition, so we will all be accountable in question time today, as we are every day that parliament sits. I will say this to the Leader of the Opposition: I'll ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper at 3 pm, which is when the broadcast finishes.