Politics Live: February 12, 2015

The end of another week and what a week it was.

Let's recap the day:

• the government has rejected calls for a royal commission into the treatment of children in immigration detention centres;
• unemployment rose to 6.4 per cent;
• confusion remains about the status of the government's GP copayment; and
• Parliament passed a unanimous motion in support of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Since I showed you the video of Mr Abbott mentioning the holocaust I should also show you the video of Mr Abbott's apology.

Much of today has been taken up with discussion of the Human Rights Commission's report into children held in immigration detention centres.

The Age's political editor, Michael Gordon, writes: "With more than 330 children still in detention on the mainland or on Nauru, the findings are a timely reminder of the damage done by the policies of this government and the Labor government it replaced."

"Yes, people wanted the boats stopped, and there is no question that the Coalition has done that. But many are uncomfortable with an approach that inflicts suffering on one group of asylum seekers in order to deter others from seeking protection in this country – especially when those who are suffering are children."

Mr Abbott calls Question Time to an end and then rises to acknowledge his mistake.

"I should not have used the term 'holocaust'," Mr Abbott says. "I did withdraw it. I do apologise for it."

He reassures the House that whatever happens with submarines (which is what prompted Mr Abbott to mention it) there will be more jobs for South Australia.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott departs Question Time on Thursday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Ever since the reference to the Holocaust Question Time has been rowdy.

I think it's fair to say that any politician invokes the holocaust at their extreme peril. I would be surprised if it was not causing MPs to question Mr Abbott's judgment.

Here is the video of Mr Abbott's reference to the holocaust.

There's no truth to the rumour the pair are discussing tearing up the political rule book and running on a bipartisan unity ticket.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and shadow minister Tanya Plibersek speak behind the Speaker's chair during Question Time on Thursday.Credit: Andrew Meares

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has a quick confab with her opposition counterpart Tanya Plibersek behind the Speaker's chair.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and shadow minister Tanya Plibersek in Question Time on Thursday.Credit: Andrew Meares

The Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, attempts to distract people from the Prime Minister's Holocaust remark:

And now jobs or, more accurately, the lack thereof.

Mr Abbott is asked why unemployment has risen to the highest levels since August 2002 (see 11.35 am post) which is when he was minister for employment.

Mr Abbott starts talking about the "holocaust of jobs" lost under the previous Labor government but quickly withdraws and replaces it with the "decimation of jobs".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott during Question Time on Thursday.Credit: Andrew Meares