Mr BRADFORD (9:52 AM) —I have been very perplexed and concerned about the rise of One Nation as a political force here in Australia. I think it now is a political force and it is demonstrating in Queensland, at least at this point of time, that it is capable of actually winning seats—not only determining the outcome of seats but winning seats in Queensland. I regard this with a great deal of alarm because, frankly, I have always judged its policies to essentially be racist. I do not use that word lightly. You can analyse and re-analyse what the member for Oxley (Ms Hanson) has said in the short time she has been here. But, in the end, her comments have been offensive to Aborigines—extremely offensive to Aborigines—and extremely offensive to our Asian neighbours. They have made a judgment on her comments that they would not, I believe, otherwise have made unless they were judged to be racist.

I have been disappointed with the way the major parties have handled this problem as I see it. It came to light yesterday that the Liberal Party in the Queensland election is putting One Nation ahead of the Labor Party, as is the National Party, except in one seat. That is where the Liberal Party candidate is an ethnic person, a person of Chinese descent. I know him; I had met him before. He is a fine young man. He is only 22 years of age. Until I met him I did not think he would have much chance of winning. But, having met him, I realise that he is an accomplished young man and he will have a good chance of winning.

There is a high ethnic population in that seat, and he alone has imposed his will on the party to place One Nation last in his seat. Other candidates, when they are asked about it, are simply flicking the matter off to their campaign committees. Obviously, the message that they and members of parties have been given results in their saying, `Well, that is a matter for the campaign committee. It is not my decision.' If I were a candidate in that situation and I felt strongly about it, as I understand a number of Liberal state candidates do, it would be a matter that I would take a principled stand on, even to the point of resigning my candidacy. I would feel as strongly as that about it.

I told the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) early on that he should have contended more strongly with Mrs Hanson. As Laurie Oakes says in this week's Bulletin—(Time expired)

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Nehl) —I acknowledge that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (Mr Abbott) is seeking the call, but I am constrained by standing orders and House of Representatives practice. I cannot give him the call. He will resume his seat.

Mr Abbott —On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker: I appreciate the difficulty that the standing orders place you under, but your senior colleague the Speaker of the House of Representatives has adopted the practice of allowing things that may technically be in breach of standing orders but are within the spirit of the proceedings of the House. I put it to you that there was never any intention to deny parliamentary secretaries the ability to speak as part of the Main Committee's proceedings.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER —I thank the honourable member. He will resume his seat and I will say in response that there is every intention. It is spelt out quite clearly. I regret that I cannot give him the call, but I am the upholder of standing orders in this place. I call the honourable member for Lindsay.