Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
3:18 pm
I seek to make a personal explanation.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Most grievously by the Prime Minister in question time today.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
During the Liberal Party party room this morning, I advised my colleagues that the Labor Party would be completely hypocritical to attack any policy on nuclear—firstly in relation to waste, because they had signed up to disposal of waste under AUKUS. Secondly, I made the point in relation to safety. They would find it hard to criticise a policy on safety given that they had decided to house the nuclear submarines at Henderson, a matter of kilometres from residential suburbs; and in Osborne in South Australia, where submarines would regularly, for decades, be docked within kilometres of those suburbs.
The third point I made was in relation to location. I said they'll find it hard to criticise that, because we've said that we would restrict the locations to a handful of sites which are end-of-life coal fired generators—bring them to an end—and bring in latest zero-emissions nuclear technology. In relation to cost, I said that the Labor Party would find it hard to dispute that, because, as we know, in Ontario, it costs 50 per cent less than what we pay here for electricity, and in the US it is one-third of the cost. I made the point that we had a little more work to do in relation to the cost aspect and that we would make our decision and our policy known in due course. So for the Prime Minister to come in here today to again show how weak he is as a leader, how pathetic he is as a prime minister, should come as no surprise to anyone.
Milton Dick Speaker
The point of the standing orders to enable personal representations is to explain where—the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order?
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
The member for McEwen, who is a regular offender against the standing orders, made an unparliamentary remark, and he should withdraw it.
Milton Dick Speaker
Order, the minister for the environment and the Attorney-General. We'll hear from the Leader of the House. We'll do this in an orderly way.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
In the same vein, comments about personal appearance are highly disorderly. The Leader of the Opposition made an interjection against the member for McEwen in exactly that form during question time, and he should also withdraw.
Milton Dick Speaker
The difficulty for me is I heard no interjections from either member because of the disorderly conduct of the House. I'm just going to remind all members to show respect to each other and if I ever hear someone talking about appearance on either side, not only will they withdraw; they won't stay for the remainder of question time. The Leader of the Opposition.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
I'm very happy to assist, in terms of the order of the House, but I can advise that the member made an unparliamentary remark just then—in question time as well, but it wasn't drawn to your attention at that point. The member made an unparliamentary remark. I ask that, for the good conduct of the parliament this afternoon, he withdraw.
Milton Dick Speaker
Order! As I said, I didn't hear the remark. I'm just going to ask the member, if he has made an unparliamentary remark, to withdraw that, to assist the House.
Rob Mitchell McEwen, Australian Labor Party
As I pointed out last week, we have a pattern forming where points of orders are being—
Opposition members interjecting—
Hang on. I'm entitled to have my word.
Rob Mitchell McEwen, Australian Labor Party
The House of RepresentativesPractice is very clear about words that are offensive and unparliamentary, but it also says that it can't be words that are considered 'political sensitivities'. This is exactly what we're seeing, where we've got members on that side jumping up every time to make a claim that someone said something unparliamentary just to try and shut it down and to make a reflection on members of this side of the House. I just remind those opposite that it is clear where it says—
Opposition members interjecting—
Milton Dick Speaker
Alright. We'll just deal with this. I've asked the member, if he has made an unparliamentary mark remark, if he wishes to withdraw it. I didn't hear the remark, but I'm just asking if he has done that. If he doesn't believe he has done that—
Milton Dick Speaker
Okay. We will move to the next item before the House.