Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

On the point of order, Mr President, I simply make this point. This is a question to a person representing the Deputy Prime Minister. There's obviously a much broader remit when it comes to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister. It actually goes to the suitability of the person now occupying the job. If it is your ruling that that is not relevantly a matter to be addressed to the person representing him, we accept that. I would submit it is entirely reasonable for the opposition to put to the person representing the Deputy Prime Minister whether or not the Deputy Prime Minister is in fact suitable to retain that role.