Mr LEE —Mr Speaker, my question without notice is addressed to the Prime Minister, and it relates to his dishonest assurances to older Australians which were made in 1996.

Mr SPEAKER —I think that is getting pretty close. I would withdraw that remark, thank you.

Mr LEE —Mr Speaker, could I draw your attention to your ruling yesterday on page 1302 of the Hansard when you allowed the Prime Minister to refer to my `miserable, dishonest claims'.

Mr SPEAKER —Can I direct the honourable member to standing order 147:

The Speaker may direct that the language of a question be changed if it seems to him unbecoming or not in conformity with the standing orders of the House.

Mr LEE —Are you saying they can use `dishonest' in answers but not in questions? Is that what you are telling us, Mr Speaker?

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member has been in this House long enough to know there is an entirely different set of standing orders relating to the presentation of a question.

Mr Martin Ferguson —You're mates.

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member for Batman will withdraw that remark.

Mr Martin Ferguson —I withdraw the suggestion that you're mates.

Mr SPEAKER —Thank you. The honourable member for Dobell knows that there is a capacity to alter a question, and I suggest that you withdraw that word, which is the only word that I am asking you to withdraw. Will you please put your question?

Mr LEE —I will rephrase the question, Mr Speaker. It is addressed to the Prime Minister and it relates to his dishonoured assurances to older Australians. Is the Prime Minister aware of the submission from Women's Health Victoria to the Senate inquiry into public dental services which reported examples of families who have been forced to sell furniture in order to pay for private dental care? Does the Prime Minister believe that low income families should have to choose between basic dental care and selling their furniture?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —Mr Speaker, I am pleased to—

Mr SPEAKER —I am sorry, there is a point of order behind you.

Mr Ross Cameron —Mr Speaker, I take a point of order. Is it in order to require a minister or the Prime Minister to reflect on a submission to a parliamentary committee which has not yet reported to the House?

Mr SPEAKER —The question is in order.

Mr HOWARD —In response to the member for Dobell, who asked me a question relating to the dental program, can I take the opportunity, first of all, of referring to the question that he asked me yesterday.

Mr Lee —Are you going to answer my letter?

Mr HOWARD —I am actually; I might even sign it in front of you. I have had the opportunity of checking the records in relation to this. Can I remind the honourable member for Dobell that, contrary to what is implied in his letter, the reference that I made to a `miserable, dishonest claim' was not a reference to allegations made by the Council for the Ageing, which I regard as a very reputable body, but rather to your attempt to suggest that the abolition of the program breached an undertaking.

The truth is that your party, the Labor Party, fully intended to scrap the program, had it remained in government. The program was due to cease, the contracts were expiring, and all we did was bring forward cessation by six months. You made no—

Mr Lee —I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. If the Prime Minister wants to add to an answer, he does that later in question time. He does not do it at the start of an answer to Women's Health Victoria.

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member for Dobell will resume his seat.

Mr Lee —And how can you claim a $400 million—

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member for Dobell is out of order. He will resume his seat.

Mr HOWARD —It was not an entitlement. It was a program that you would have got rid of if you had been re-elected. That is the bottom line. You would have got rid of it if you had been re-elected. Your attempt to pretend otherwise is as duplicitous as the attempt of the Leader of the Opposition to have it both ways when it comes to the waiting period for migrants. It is typical of the Labor Party that what it will do—

Mr Beazley —Mr Speaker—

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Order! Before I call the Leader of the Opposition I want members of the opposition to remain silent. Nobody can hear what is going on. This is supposed to be a forum for civilised debate. I suggest that all members remain silent.

Mr Beazley —Mr Speaker, I take a point of order which goes to relevance. The Prime Minister was asked a question relating to the dental health program and people selling their furniture.

Mr SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition will raise his point of order.

Mr Beazley —He then started to deviate into a discussion of migrant benefits and attempted to take that a point further.

Mr SPEAKER —This is not a point of order. The Leader of the Opposition will resume his place.

Mr Beazley —There was $400 million in forward estimates for that program, and you cut it, Prime Minister.

Mr SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition will resume his place.

Mr HOWARD —Mr Speaker, the reality is that I was asked a question about the dental program. You would have scrapped it. You did not make any reference to it in your 1996 election campaign and, like your duplicity on the migrant waiting period, you say one thing to one group and another thing to another group. So far as the submission is concerned, I have not seen it. I will have a look at it and, if there is anything I have to add, I will do so.