Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister implement direction 99 at the request of then New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern?

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

I thank the deputy leader for his question. What we do—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

It's her question! What we do is determine our own policy according with our own interests. That is what we have done. Indeed, the request publicly from New Zealand was to remove section 501. We did not do that. We've created a pathway for better citizenship—

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

The member for Fisher.

The member for Fisher will cease interjecting or be warned.

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

for New Zealand people who've been here to have that pathway to citizenship, and I'm pleased that, indeed, 20,000-plus Kiwis now call themselves Australian citizens as well. That's a good thing, so they can fully participate in society.

But we're also making sure that we get these things right by abolishing the AAT, something that this week those opposite voted to defend. They voted to defend this system!

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

Order! The Prime Minister will pause and the Leader of the Opposition will be allowed to make his point of order.

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

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. We took your advice on board. The question was very tight indeed, and I seek your direction as to whether the Prime Minister is relevant to the question that was asked of him.

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

Well, he did explain, in what I heard, a very clear answer to the question: it wasn't about that decision; it was another decision that was requested and that the government didn't do. So he is being directly relevant and answering the question.

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

Mr Speaker—

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

I can't control what the answer is going to be, I can only make sure the Prime Minister is being directly relevant to the question. It's as long as he is remaining on topic and being directly relevant around the process that he was asked about, around the policy topic he was asked about. If he strays into other policy topics or other government policy, he will be called back into line, but I will listen carefully to make sure he is being directly relevant. He has addressed the core principle of the question. The Leader of the Opposition further on the point of order?

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

To clarify your ruling, Mr Speaker: is it that the Prime Minister is in order?

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

My ruling is that he has answered the question and now he—

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

If it assists the House, my question to you was: is it your ruling that the Prime Minister is relevant and within the standing orders?

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

He is within the standing orders, because he has answered the question and he's providing additional information to the topic of the question. The standing order is specific around being directly relevant. I don't know what he's going to say next, but I will listen extremely carefully to make sure he's being directly relevant. If he starts talking about another topic, he won't be allowed to do that. He has the call and I'll make sure he's relevant.

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

Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. I directly answered the question and I'm directly—

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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition!

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

talking about the issue which the question went to, about people who have been released, including 1,300 under this former minister's watch—the now Leader of the Opposition—as a result of the AAT, including 102 sex offenders and 64 child sex offenders.