Mr BEAZLEY (Leader of the Opposition) (2:57 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business. I go again to the question that I asked previously which was not answered, and it has nothing to do with Manusafe.

Mr SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition should come to his question.

Mr BEAZLEY —My question is this: will you confirm that, as a result of the deal negotiated between Tristar and its workers, the employer is required to pay 1.5 per cent of their payroll for an insurance bond which over two years costs $1.4 million? Isn't it also a fact that under Labor's employee entitlements scheme, employers will be required to pay just an additional 0.1 per cent on their superannuation contributions—that is, $23,000? Minister, why are you forcing employers to suffer industrial disputes and to pay more—

Mr SPEAKER —The Leader of the Opposition is now entering into an argument.

Mr BEAZLEY —when under our plan the scheme will be legislated and employers will pay substantially less? That is not argument; it is a simple proposition.

Mr ABBOTT (Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business) —Labor's scheme to protect entitlements is Manusafe. That is the scheme that is being promoted by the Leader of the Opposition's friend Dougie Cameron, Dougie Cameron's mate over there—

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Lyons will withdraw that statement.

Mr Adams —I withdraw, Mr Speaker.

Mr McMullan —I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The House of Representatives Practice at page 477 makes it clear that language likely to create disorder is unparliamentary—

Government members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —I will deal with members on my right! The Manager of Opposition Business has the call; he has the right to be heard.

Mr McMullan —It derives from the same House of Commons Practice which led you to rule the Leader of the Opposition's question out of order, Mr Speaker. If there is one thing that is likely to provoke disorder, it is a deliberate lie like that just told by the minister. He knows it is not true and he continues to repeat it. If he did not know that it was not true when he first came into the House—although I believe that he did—he knows now, and it is also irrelevant to the question. He has deliberately misled the House and lied.

Mr SPEAKER —The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. He has made his point of order.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Charlton is warned!

Mr Reith —I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The allegation of a deliberate lie is clearly in breach of the instruction and advice that you gave to the House earlier today, and I ask that it be withdrawn. It is totally unparliamentary given the advices that you have provided.

Mr McMullan —I withdraw the allegation that he deliberately misled the House.

Mr SPEAKER —I thank the Manager of Opposition Business.

Mr ABBOTT —I was asked about Labor's entitlements policy. It is Manusafe, the policy of Dougie Cameron, the Leader of the Opposition's mate.

Honourable members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —This parliament—if the member for Reid has some difficulty with this, he may excuse himself if he wishes—has survived and has, in fact, thrived over 100 years on the basis that anyone could come in here and state whatever they believed to be the truth and in the national interest. If anyone believed that they were misleading the House they, too, were free to be called to put their point of view. It is the responsibility of the occupier of the chair. The minister, obviously, has an obligation to respond in a manner that he believes is truthful, as do all other members. Whether the response is consistent with what others may believe is not a matter over which the chair has jurisdiction. The chair's obligation is to ensure that everyone can put their point of view and be heard. Chorusing runs counter to all that the standing orders stand for, that is, the right to be heard in silence. I expect every occupier of the House to exercise courtesy and not to be provocative in the way in which they address the House. So do all other occupiers of the chair. So do all Australians. So do all members on the floor. The minister has concluded his answer.

Mr Crean —He could not get the lie up so he had to sit down.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Parramatta will resume his seat. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned.