Mr RICHARD EVANS —My question is directed to the Treasurer. I refer him to the Sydney Morning Herald article of 8 July alleging that the former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating secretly sold his piggery interest to an Indonesian businessman for some $US6 million. I also refer you, Treasurer—

Mr SPEAKER —Can the honourable gentleman start his question again? I do not know where this fits into ministerial responsibility.

Mr RICHARD EVANS —I refer the Treasurer to a Sydney Morning Herald article on 8 July alleging the former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating secretly sold his piggery interest to an Indonesian businessman for approximately $US6 million. I also refer the Treasurer to documents tabled in the Senate last week by Senator Hill which provided further insight into this complex transaction and strongly indicates a—

Mr SPEAKER —The honourable member will resume his seat. The matter is not within the standing orders. The question is out of order.

Government members interjecting—

Mr Reith —On a point of order, Mr Speaker: you can hardly rule on a question until the member has had an opportunity to actually ask his question so as to establish the validity of the question going to a matter within the jurisdiction of the Treasurer.

Government members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —I suggest the House resumes its silence first. The honourable member for Cowan will resume his seat and the honourable member for Lindsay will not interject. The reason the question is out of order is that you are now in the second part of the question and neither part to this stage relates other than to an individual. The normal course of question time in this place is that questions related specifically to individuals are normally required to be put on notice, and there is a procedure under our standing orders that if you are making allegations about individuals they need to be substantiated. The question is out of order.