Ms MACKLIN (2:41 PM) —My question again is to the Prime Minister, and I refer to his answer to a question earlier today when he referred to claims by Bruno Bouchet that the Leader of the Opposition had plagiarised its `learn or earn' policy statement from material presented to a youth parliament. Is the Prime Minister aware that the Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of the YMCAs of Australia—the organisation responsible for the youth parliament—has written to the Leader of the Opposition today saying that they apologise for any embarrassment. He says:

The SPEAKER —The member for Jagajaga must understand that she must come to the question.

Ms MACKLIN —Will the Prime Minister now join with—

The SPEAKER —The Treasurer! The member for Jagajaga.

Ms MACKLIN —Will the Prime Minister now join—

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Jagajaga!

Honourable members interjecting—

Ms MACKLIN —Will the Prime Minister now join—

The SPEAKER —The member for Jagajaga does not have the call and she will be heard when members on both sides of the House exercise the courtesy of allowing her to be heard. The member for Jagajaga.

Ms MACKLIN —Will the Prime Minister now join with Mr Bouchet and the YMCA in apologising to the Leader of the Opposition for these false claims?

Government members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! Prime Minister, I regret to say that because I was calling the frontbench to order I had not called you, and it is very likely that the Hansard record, if it is to be accurate, will not record your answer.

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —It was a very short answer.

The SPEAKER —I appreciate that.

Mr HOWARD —It had two letters in it.

The SPEAKER —The member for Watson is warned!