QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:31): Now, I wonder why the member for Cook, rather than my opposite, asked that question? I wonder why a question about properties or wealth or inheritance or trusts wasn't asked by this bloke? But they get the new kid, the member for Cook, to ask the question.
I wonder why that's the case! Yesterday, when a similar question was asked, I said to the Leader of the Opposition—we have had discussions as well about people's families being raised in this place. I had that discussion, as I've had it with other leaders, and he said, 'Oh, well, it wasn't me.
He wanted to ask the question.' Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order? Mr Tehan: I'd like the Prime Minister to come to the dispatch box and withdraw what he said about the member just before. The SPEAKER: If the Prime Minister— Mr Pasin: Withdraw it!
Withdraw it! The SPEAKER: The member for Barker will have to leave the chamber, after that outburst. The member for Barker then left the chamber.
The SPEAKER: We will deal with this matter. The manager has raised a point of order. If the Prime Minister has said an unparliamentary term, I'll ask him to assist the House and withdraw.
Mr ALBANESE: I withdraw. The SPEAKER: I thank the Prime Minister. Mr Tehan: Speaker, this is really important— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: No— Mr Tehan interjecting— The SPEAKER: Resume your seat.
Your question was to the member. You didn't specify who it was. Mr Tehan interjecting— The SPEAKER: Okay, well, I didn't hear what the Prime Minister said, because of the noise.
Can I ask everyone—I don't know who everyone's pointing to. Listen, we are going to settle this House. Everybody is going to lift their standards.
The Prime Minister was asked to withdraw—he has done so—just as I have done to members on my left and my right. I didn't hear the remark. I don't want the remark repeated.
But I remind all members to keep their language— An honourable member interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order!—to make sure that we follow the standing orders. The Prime Minister, in continuation. Mr ALBANESE: The premise of the question was completely wrong as well, because what I did was buy a house— A government member: And lived in it.
Mr ALBANESE: in Marrickville, and lived in it. And what I've done now is: because, as I have publicly declared, I got married last November, Jodie and I—I note that she is removed from the equation—have chosen to buy a home for ourselves, for down the track. That is what has happened—all declared.
Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! Mr ALBANESE: And, for those opposite— Mr Chester: You're taking that chance away from them. The SPEAKER: Order!
The member for Gippsland is now warned. If he interjects one more time, he won't be here. Mr ALBANESE: The house I bought first was in Beauchamp Street, Marrickville—the same house that, it ended up, my former wife and I raised our son in, in Beauchamp Street, Marrickville.
I bought that house, and we lived in it and then we sold it. It was our family home. The family home is sacrosanct to me and to everyone else.
And that's why we want more people to own a family home—that is what we want people to do. And it is absolutely extraordinary, and it shows their failure to actually have any legitimate criticism of our policy, that they chose to go down this road. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: When the House comes to order, we'll hear from the honourable member for Calwell.