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. Considering our Ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, described Donald Trump as a 'destructive president' and 'a traitor to the West' and given Mr Trump's response today that Mr Rudd is 'not the brightest bulb', 'nasty' and 'won't be there long', will the Prime Minister be reassessing Mr Rudd's position as ambassador to—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

No. The Manager of Opposition Business will cease. There is far too much noise. This is not the time to interject. Members on my right, the Manager of Opposition Business will be heard in silence. There are not going to be any additional comments made. You may have your opinions about the question. You can keep them to yourselves. The Manager of Opposition Business will start his question again.

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. Considering our Ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, described Donald Trump as a 'destructive president' and a 'traitor to the West' and given Mr Trump's response today that Mr Rudd is 'not the brightest bulb', 'nasty' and 'won't be there long', will the Prime Minister be reassessing Mr Rudd's position as ambassador to our most important—or, as Mr Farrell suggests, our second most important—strategic ally?

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

I'm somewhat surprised to get that question from the Manager of Opposition Business, which says everything about the character of this current opposition.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order, members on my left and the member for Fairfax! The Manager of Opposition Business was heard in silence. The Prime Minister will be given the same courtesy.

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

At a time when Australians are worried about the cost of living and a range of issues that affect their daily lives, those opposite decide to politicise Australia's representative in Washington, DC—something that was never done by this side of the chamber when Arthur Sinodinos occupied that position, when Joe Hockey occupied that position and when other representatives, including Alexander Downer, George Brandis and others, were High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. One of the things that I have never seen happen before, in 28 years in this chamber, is an attempt to politicise Australia's representative overseas in an important nation such as that. I've never seen it before. This is what the Leader of the Opposition said—

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

Order! The member for Fairfax is warned.

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

This is what the Leader of the Opposition said on the appointment of Mr Kevin Rudd, a former Australian Prime Minister, as Ambassador to the United States: 'We welcome the appointment of Kevin Rudd to the United States.' When Joe Hockey, a predecessor, was appointed, he said this: 'I'm sure the Americans will give him a warm welcome.' Those opposite know that whether it is Kevin Rudd in the United States or Stephen Smith as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, who is currently here as a result of the AUKMIN meetings and who I hosted last evening—I'll host the AUKMIN delegates, both the defence and foreign ministers, including former prime minister David Cameron, at the Lodge tomorrow and I'll be very proud to do so—when we engage, particularly with our AUKUS allies, the idea that we have a cheap-shot question like that diminishes the opposition and says everything about why this bloke is not fit to be the Prime Minister of Australia.

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! Members on my right will cease interjecting. The member for Deakin will cease interjecting.