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. Yesterday, the member for Melbourne moved a shameful motion that attacked Israel and gave Hamas terrorists a free pass. Will the government today join the opposition in standing with Australia's Jewish community and condemn the Greens for their blatantly antisemitic behaviour, or is the Prime Minister too dependent on Greens preferences and Greens support in the Senate to have the courage to do so?

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

Order. The member for Spence will cease interjecting. Order.

Honourable members interjecting—

The House is going to come to order. The manager was heard in silence. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

It's a serious question, in the context of the worst social disharmony that I have seen, not just in my time in politics but in my time that I've been alive, in this country. It shouldn't be weaponised. I condemn, totally, any form of antisemitism—including the comments by my local member, the member for Newtown, whose comments about 'tentacles', with regard to the Jewish community, I find offensive. I find it had its origins in antisemitism. And I condemn it unequivocally—just as I condemn forms of, that I have seen, Islamophobic comments and behaviour as well.

Now, no-one moved a motion in this parliament yesterday. There was an attempt to suspend standing orders yesterday—that's what there was. And, when there's an attempt to suspend standing orders, as someone who occupies the position of Manager of Opposition Business should know, that is the matter that is before the chair—nothing else; nothing else.

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

Order. The Leader of the Opposition—

Look, the Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting. The Prime Minister is being directly—

Government members interjecting—

Order! Order, members on my right!

Honourable members interjecting—

Order on my right and left. The Prime Minister is being directly relevant and talking about the motion, that he was asked about, yesterday. I'm going to call for silence.

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.

Order. The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs is warned. The Prime Minister, in continuation.

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

That was the matter that I understand was moved before this chamber: a suspension of standing orders, from a member of a minor political party. I've got to say that, when a suspension of standing orders is moved by the Greens political party, what I don't do is elevate it.

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

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.

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

What I don't do also is to come into the chamber when there are micky votes that aren't counted. I don't do it, because, for obvious reasons, I have other things to do—other priorities. So, Mr Speaker, if the test—

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

Order. The Prime Minister's time has concluded.

Honourable members interjecting—

There's far too much noise in the chamber.

Government members interjecting—

Members on my right, including the frontbench, will cease interjecting, so I can hear from—order! I'd like to hear from the member—

Order! The member for Wannon?

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for the Environment and Water made an unparliamentary remark. You did. And it would help the House—

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

Order! Resume your seat. I call the Prime Minister on the point of order.

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

The context of the interjections that are going across this chamber—I would have thought the idea that there's anyone on that side—I don't accuse them, and they shouldn't accuse anyone in my party of being anything other than totally opposed to racism in all its forms, including, of course, the rise of antisemitism.

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

I'll deal with this matter. If everyone could cease interjecting across the chamber, we won't be having this problem. I had immediately called for order in the chamber. If ministers are interjecting and opposition members are interjecting, I can't hear them. From this moment on, for the remainder of question time, cease interjecting. We won't have that problem. The House is in order.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy to withdraw. I'd love to see the return to order of the chamber.

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

I thank the minister for assisting the House. Order! We shall move on.