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

I seek leave to move the following motion:

That this House:

(1) notes

  (a) the Industry Minister yesterday stated the ABC had been forced to express regret at the outcome of their reporting concerning the Industry Minister and a historical rape allegation, but this is not true;

  (b) the Industry Minister yesterday stated that ABC had been forced to say the accusations could not be proved to a criminal or civil standard; but this is not true;

  (c) the Industry Minister yesterday stated that ABC had made a humiliating backdown, but this is not true;

  (d) this matter is not resolved, no matter how much the Industry Minister and Prime Minister wishes it so; and

  (e) now defamation proceedings have ceased, there is no impediment to an independent inquiry into the matter; and

(2) therefore, calls on the Prime Minster to attend the chamber and explain why he is standing in the way of an independent inquiry into this important matter.

Leave not granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Isaacs from moving the following motion immediately—That this House

notes

the Industry Minister yesterday stated the ABC had been forced to express regret at the outcome of their reporting concerning the Industry Minister and a historical rape allegation, but this is not true;

the Industry Minister yesterday stated that ABC had been forced to say the accusations could not be proved to a criminal or civil standard; but this is not true;

the Industry Minister yesterday stated that ABC had made a humiliating backdown, but this is not true;

this matter is not resolved, no matter how much the Industry Minister and Prime Minister wishes it so; and

now defamation proceedings have ceased, there is no impediment to an independent inquiry into the matter; and

therefore, calls on the Prime Minster to attend the chamber and explain why he is standing in the way of an independent inquiry into this important matter.

This defamation case was a huge bluff by the former Attorney-General, and it has blown up in the Prime Minister's face.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the member be no longer heard.

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

Is the motion seconded?

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is. Workers wanting full-time manufacturing work have a part-time industry. They deserve better.

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

The member will resume his seat. The minister has the call.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the member be no longer heard.

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

The question now is that the motion moved by the honourable member for Isaacs be disagreed to. There being more than one voice calling for a division, in accordance with standing order 133 the division is deferred until after the discussion of the matter of public importance.

Debate adjourned.