Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question as to the Prime Minister. In an interview on ABC Perth on 24 September you defended your government's refusal to implement a complete ban on the advertising of sports and online gambling, by saying the problem is overwhelmingly poker machines. Why don't you use the Corporations Act or the Commonwealth's tax powers to implement harm-minimisation measures nationally on poker machines? Or is the reality that the Labor Party is simply in the pockets of the predatory gambling companies?

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

I want to hear from the Leader of the House on this.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order—the last part of that question offends the standing orders in a number of ways, including, obviously, being an imputation.

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

The standing orders are pretty clear. I am going to rule that last part of the question out. Standing order 100(d)(iv) is clear that questions must not contain imputations. I take this opportunity to remind all members that this is a warning: other speakers in similar circumstances have ruled out the entire question when this starts creeping into the questions. It's a warning for every member that I will not tolerate imputations. At this instance, I am not prepared to rule the question out of order, but I will rule the last part out. If it continues and this trend emerges, just so everyone is clear, the question will just be ruled out and we'll move to the next question. I give the call to the Prime Minister.

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

I don't question the quote that the member for Clark has used about poker machines being the main source of gambling losses in Australia, because that is just a fact.