Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Was the Minister representing the Prime Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate consulted on the decisions to reinstate knights and dames in the Australian honours system, or did he find out, like everyone else, when the Prime Minister announced it?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When the chamber settles down, we will give the call to Senator Abetz. The Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, a question of such moment clearly requires the assistance of Her Majesty's vice-president of her executive council, and I call on Senator Brandis to answer the question.

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On my left! Senator Wong is on her feet. Senator Conroy, I am waiting to give the call to Senator Wong. Senator Macdonald, Senator Cormann, and Senator Fifield, these interjections are not helping with the conduct of question time. They are disorderly.

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

Mr President, on a point of order. I can appreciate the Leader of the Government in the Senate not wanting to answer this question, but the question was whether or not Minister Abetz was consulted by the Prime Minister. The question was: was the Minister representing the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Government in the Senate consulted on the decision to reinstate knights and dames in the Australian honours system? I would suggest to you, Mr President, it is not a question that can be referred to another minister.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am allowing the question to go to Senator Brandis.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can inform Senator Dastyari that I was consulted. I am assuming that I was consulted in my capacity as the Vice President—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Brandis has heard the question and Senator Brandis needs to address the question. You have one minute 24 remaining.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This might be an historic moment. I do not know that the Vice President of the Executive Council has ever been asked a question in question time before, but I might say, Senator Dastyari, that, yes, I was consulted, I imagine—

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Brandis is endeavouring to answer the question and you are not giving him the opportunity, on my left.

An honourable senator: Only a mother can tell them apart!

Order! On my left.

An honourable senator: I never said a word!

I did not say you did.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was consulted. I supported the decision very warmly. I agree with the Prime Minister's view that it adds a grace note to our national life, and may I say how delighted I am that the first recipient of the restored orders of knights and dames of the Order of Australia is Dame Quentin Bryce, whom it has been my pleasure to know for 39 years.

Honourable senators: Hear! Hear!

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I understand that I am addressing Sir Brandis of 18C.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! You need to address people by their correct title in this place.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the minister aware that the former Prime Minister John Howard has described the reinstatement of knights and dames as 'somewhat anachronistic', that Senator Boyce has eloquently said: 'Those sorts of titles don't fit in Australia, to me, they never did,' that Premier Barnett from Western Australia said that the move is 'out of context with modern Australia,' and that his cabinet colleague Mr Turnbull has described it as 'a slap in the face'. Are Mr Howard, Senator Boyce, Premier Barnett and Mr Turnbull wrong?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am aware that there is a variety of views about this in the Liberal Party, and it is one of the glories of the Liberal Party and the National Party that we are not afraid of a variety of views. I am also aware that the shadow Attorney-General, Mr Mark Dreyfus, carries the title Queen's Counsel, that the former Labor Attorney-General, former senator Gareth Evans, carries the title Queen's Counsel, and that, when both of those gentlemen were given the opportunity to change their post-nominal title to Senior Counsel, they both declined to do so.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis, resume your seat. Order! I know people are a little bit excited on both sides, but it is disorderly to call across the chamber. Senator Brandis is entitled to be heard in silence.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While there is a joyous diversity of opinion among the Cavaliers on this side of the chamber, there is nothing but sneering hypocrisy from Mr Mark Dreyfus QC and the Roundheads on that side of the chamber.

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When there is silence, Senator Dastyari, I will give you the call—not before. When there is silence on both sides we will proceed—on my left and on my right.

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I refer to Barnaby Joyce's statement yesterday:

If we decide that frogs are more important and we're going to be a nation of frogs, then let's just step aside and let the frogs run the joint. We could knight them.

In the same week as backtracking on FOFA reforms and backing the right to bigotry, has this government now completely descended into farce?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When there is silence on both sides—Senator Brandis, just resume your seat. I remind honourable senators on both sides that Senator Brandis has the call.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I enjoy Senator Dastyari's sense of humour and I enjoy my colleague Mr Barnaby Joyce's metaphors, although I must confess sometimes I find them a little impenetrable. I was not aware of Senator Joyce's reference to frogs, although there is of course that famous nursery rhyme of the princess and the frog. Perhaps that is what Mr Joyce was referring to. But there is an element of farce about this week and it is the position of Mr Mark Dreyfus, because Mr Mark Dreyfus is the only person in this parliament who holds a royal title, Queen's Counsel, which he could renounce but chooses not to while condemning the Australian government for reinstating an Australian order of chivalry.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, it is with great disappointment that I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.