Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
3:23 pm
These documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Mr Speaker, going back to the point of order before documents—
Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
I've just got a question for you, because I think we need to clear this up. We heard quite clearly the word 'thug' and we heard quite clearly the word 'coward'. Now, if those two are in then I don't think that is going to help the order of the House, so I ask you to consider that, because, as you know, Speaker, I personally have a great respect for order in the House, as do all my colleagues, and we would like to see that good order continue.
Milton Dick Speaker
Just on that point of order, the Leader of the House.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Just on that, those particular words have not previously been ruled unparliamentary. The first of them was used 15 times by the now Leader of the Opposition in the last term, so they've certainly been used in the House; they've been used at this dispatch box by your leader. I just offer that for context.
Milton Dick Speaker
The issue can easily be resolved. It is a good point the member for Wannon has made. Language is important. Don't say those words; don't say anything to reflect on another member, and we won't have this discussion, full stop, end of story—on both sides.
The member for Barker is not helping the situation when we're trying to move to the next item. I'm just trying to ask everyone to enable me to move to the MPI.