Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is the Prime Minister. Last week we learned the CFMEU donated $4.3 million to Labor. This government has already abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission in exchange. What else is the corrupt CFMEU going to get from this government for its donations?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just going to ask the manager to rephrase that question, particularly with the word 'corrupt' involved. I'll give him another chance to rephrase the question.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Last week we learned the CFMEU donated $4.3 million to the Labor Party. This government has already abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission in exchange. What else is the CFMEU going to get from this government for their—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the reference in standing orders to references to improper motives, the question—you asked for it to be rephrased. He's the Manager of Opposition Business; he always would have known that it was outside the standing orders when he asked it the first time. He's now having to be asked to say it a second time. He's repeating the deliberate breach. I draw it to your attention for a ruling.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to give the Manager of Opposition Business one more time. If he pushes this, the question will be ruled out, and we'll move on to the other side immediately.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Last week we learned the CFMEU donated $4.3 million to the Labor Party. This government has already abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission. What else is the CFMEU going to get from this government?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting otherwise we'll move on.

The member for McEwen will cease interjecting as well. The Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That preamble can only be part of the same question if it's in breach of standing orders.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, the offending words, on your advice and in my interpretation, were 'in exchange' and the word 'corrupt', which prefaced the word 'CFMEU'. The shadow minister took out the words 'in exchange', so he broke the nexus in terms of what he was trying to say in his question and removed the word 'corrupt', both on your instruction. In that case, I don't see—I know they're sensitive over this side—it is not a breach of the standing orders to ask that question, particularly given the last part of the question, which is what the Leader of the House is arguing, is: what else is the CFMEU going to get from this government for its donations? I mean, that is not in breach of the standing orders.

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The House will come to order. I have tried to be reasonable with this. Members are entitled to ask questions. The Leader of the Opposition just demonstrated, in my opinion, why the question is out of order. I'm moving to the next question. I'm calling the member for Gilmore.