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

My question is to the minister for transport. Does the minister agree with the Prime Minister that electric vehicles will end the weekend?

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't know whether that is a complete quote and whether it is taken in context. I have a suspicion that it's not actually been taken in context. I think that it might have been a reflection on another party's policies and not on our own. I don't think that was a reflection on our policies, and it's quite clear that we understand the dynamics of this nation. We note also, as refers to electric cars, that Boris Johnson has a policy on electric cars at the moment. I'm sure that in some areas they're very pertinent, but of course in other areas they're not. But what it does say is that we might—

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order that goes to relevance and the minister's answer where he said he wasn't sure about the quote. I'm happy to provide the quote for him.

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

No, I've heard the question. It was a short question—

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

It was.

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

and I'm ready to rule on the point of order. As I've repeatedly said as Speaker, I can't vouch for the accuracy of questions or indeed answers and I certainly don't want to start receiving evidence during question time. I'm just pointing out that's the nature of question time. It's not my role to vouch for the accuracy or not. I simply make the point: when a question is framed, even in a tight way like that, so that it has at its heart an accusation, the questioner well knows, particularly an experienced one, that it might be seeking a yes-or-no answer. But that cannot be compelled, and the minister answering the question merely needs to be relevant to it. I'm listening to him.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I believe that the context of that question was on the premise of a policy brought forward by the then leader of the Labor Party, the member for Maribyrnong. What I can say about the member for Maribyrnong is that he seems to have a more substantial policy direction in regard to any target than the member for Grayndler, who in his time in the seat has not presented any policy on how he would achieve the objectives he wants to achieve. What we have in this place is quite clear: we have a policy that has been developed and planned diligently, I imagine, over an incredibly long period of time by the leader of the Liberal Party, the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia; we have a process of analysis that is now being conducted by me and the Nationals; and we have a complete and utter void on the other side.