Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. When bushfires were threatening communities across my electorate, Gladys Berejiklian said she could not trust the Prime Minister, telling a Liberal cabinet minister the Prime Minister is 'more concerned with politics than people' and 'lives are at stake and he's just obsessed with petty political point-scoring'. Why was the Prime Minister obsessed with political point-scoring during the bushfires and why didn't he just do his job?

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House, on a point of order?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, it's clear that that is not a statement that has been made by the former premier of New South Wales, and I think there's confirmation in relation to that.

Honourable members interjecting—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will stop for a moment; I can't hear. The member for Kingsford Smith should be skating in Beijing at the moment because he's on very thin ice. I'll get the Leader of the House to start again, please.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We would be happy to approve the visa, Mr Speaker, for him to go to Beijing.

Honourable members interjecting—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my right will also be quiet.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Referring to an unsubstantiated media gossip speculation piece is completely out of order, Mr Speaker. This was not a statement made by the former premier of New South Wales. It is media speculation about a tweet that may have been sent to somebody who turns out not to have been a federal cabinet minister. The story goes on, but this is not a document that can be referred to or a statement that can be referred to, and it's certainly not within the Prime Minister's responsibility to respond to gossip. It should be ruled out of order on that basis.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There's nothing unparliamentary in the quotation that's been provided. The question goes directly to the Prime Minister's responsibilities and the way he does those. What the Leader of the House is asking is for you to start to become the arbiter on the veracity of any quotation that is brought forward in this parliament, and, if that starts to become the role of the Speaker, I think it puts you in an impossible position and would be a real change in the way this House operates.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I indicated just yesterday, I cannot be an arbiter of fact as to whether something is true or not true or right or wrong. The question, from what I heard, which was not complete, was in order. I give the call to the Prime Minister.

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

As the former Premier said herself in her own statement, she did not confirm any such statement at all. She did not. In her own direct contact with me on this matter she has said likewise. This is what we've become used to from the opposition in putting these matters forward. It's not about policy. The Leader of the Opposition wants to have a character contest with me. Bring it on.