Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Will native hardwood timber workers receive direct support from your government?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a dry gully that they're stuck in. Having come here and asked a question suggesting that there was a misleading of parliament last Thursday, they're now asking us whether we will intervene over decisions that I said earlier were decisions of the Victorian government, not decisions by us.

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

The Prime Minister, who is 30 seconds into his answer, pause for a moment so I can hear from the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

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

This was a very tight question, given your recent and previous rulings. There's no wiggle room or ability for the Prime Minister to have this confected outrage. He needs to answer the question specifically, because it goes to his conduct in this chamber.

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

I'll 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

To the point of order: I'm not sure how it goes to what the Leader of the Opposition just said, because that wasn't in the question. What was in the question was a question about how money will be expended and how the National Reconstruction Fund money will be used. That's where it went.

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

The question was about support for timber workers receiving support from your government. The Prime Minister is 30 seconds in. I'm going to listen to him carefully and I'll make sure he is relevant to the question.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer the member to my answer of last Thursday that was accurate in every aspect. Included in that—I quote from last Thursday's answer:

The Victorian government has a $200 million structural adjustment package in its budget …

That is what I said last Thursday. That is the case today. What I have spoken about, as well, is our policy to provide support for the forestry sector through the National Reconstruction Fund, something that those opposite seem completely oblivious to. They come in here, they vote against it and then they say that it's not broad enough.

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

The Prime Minister will pause. The Leader of the Opposition has raised a point of order on relevance. It can't be about that, so what is the point of order?

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

It goes to the direction you gave the Prime Minister to be relevant. This couldn't have been a tighter question. Surely, if your rulings mean anything to this leader of the government, he should answer it directly. It didn't allow for this ambiguity. It didn't allow for this rant and rave. He needs to answer—

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! That is the second time standing orders have been abused by the Leader of the Opposition, but, out of the respect I have for his position—if it were anyone else there would be action taken. I'll ask the Prime Minister to continue his answer regarding support for timber workers from his government.

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

Mr Speaker, it would help if you restated the question.

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

No. I know what the question is. I'm trying to listen to the Prime Minister. I'm going to make sure he is relevant to the answer. He has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Mr Speaker. He's very angry. He can't help himself, and I'll give you an example—

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

If the member for Gippsland says one more thing he will be directed to leave the chamber.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll give you an example of something: a grant that we recently put in through the member for Lyons, a great supporter of the forestry industry. The member for Lyons was there with the agriculture minister, Murray Watt, at Western Junction Sawmill, the recipient of a $1.98 million grant from the program that we have put in place, the Accelerate Adoption of Wood Processing Innovation Program—something that we have done. We will continue to provide support for timber workers across a range of areas. I acknowledge, of course, my answer from last Thursday; once again, I reaffirm everything that I said in that answer.