Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. How can the Prime Minister claim that the opposition made no objection to his statement that he would call the New South Wales police commissioner about the substance of Strike Force Garrad into one of his cabinet ministers, when the Prime Minister has prevented the parliament debating this deepening scandal 20 times this week?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sorry to have offended the precious sensitivities of the Leader of the Opposition! But, on the issue of gag motions that he has raised in his question, the one thing the Leader of the Opposition should apologise for is running the sort of political game tactics we've seen on display this week, and in its worst form today, where the Leader of the Opposition voted to gag a veteran of this country who was seeking to speak about veteran suicide in this country. He was on the top of the list of those who voted to gag that member. But it wasn't only that; the bill he was speaking on was the Defence Service Homes Amendment Bill, which expands eligibility for the Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme to current and former members of the Australian Defence Force, and, on the second reading, they voted against this bill. The only person who should be apologising in this chamber is the Leader of the Labor Party, for his grubby political games.

Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

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

Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer? The Prime Minister has concluded his answer.