Mr RUDD (2:49 PM) —My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Deputy Prime Minister, did the government provide the October 2003 Australian Treasury officers’ report to DFAT’s Iraq task force on the corruption of the oil for food program to the Cole inquiry before it appeared on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald this week?

Mr VAILE (Minister for Trade) —The information that has been provided to the Cole commission of inquiry by DFAT has not been released publicly yet. The member for Griffith knows that. That information is all in the possession of Commissioner Cole, and when he releases that is his responsibility. I would suggest that the member for Griffith needs to respect the fact that this commission has been set up to fully investigate the oil for food program and the contracts therein, and it is up to Commissioner Cole as to when he publicly releases those documents.

Mr Rudd interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! I have not called any member at this stage.

Mr Rudd —Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Under the standing orders, the Deputy Prime Minister is required to answer a question, which had one point.

The SPEAKER —The member for Griffith will resume his seat. I will rule on that point of order. I think that, for as long as all members can remember, there have been times when ministers may not have given the answers that they had hoped for. But members do not have the right to demand that the minister answers a question in the terms of their choosing. If members would like to refer to the House of Representatives Practice, they will see that there is quite an extensive section on that point.

Mr Rudd —Mr Speaker, just on your ruling: the Deputy Prime Minister has today made a mockery of question time by not answering any questions.

The SPEAKER —The member for Griffith will resume his seat. That was not a point of order. If the member for Griffith continues to take frivolous points of order I will deal with him.