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Monday, 27 February 2012
Page: 1780

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Leader of the House and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) (15:12): I also rise to speak against this motion to suspend standing and sessional orders. This is the 41st time that the opposition have unsuccessfully moved a suspension of standing orders and they do it for one purpose—

Mr Pyne: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I appreciate the theatre of the Leader of the House wanting to have a say because he cannot bear to miss out. Surely the time—

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Leader of the House has the call.

Mr ALBANESE: Those opposite do this day after day for two reasons: (1) because they do not have anything to say about Australia's future in the great policy debates before this nation, and (2) so that for a brief period they can sit on the government benches. What we have put up with since 2010 is the longest dummy spit in Australian political history! And we see it again here today: they have two speakers, but their great objection is that we here on this side have two speakers. Let me say this: we only need one person to beat you lot and that person is the Prime Minister!

The SPEAKER: The question before the chair is that the motion for the suspension of standing and sessional orders moved by the honourable Leader of the Opposition be agreed to.

Ms Gillard: Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.