Question Time: McCormack cracks it and Peter Dutton declares Shorten was the ALP’s ‘dream leader’
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack could not contain his rage in Question Tine today, while Peter Dutton declared Bill Shorten was Labor’s ‘dream leader’.
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Tensions flared on the third day of the sitting week as Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack launched an extraordinary tirade against his Labor counterpart on the government’s drought response.
As expected the Coalition was quizzed about Chisholm MP Gladys Liu and her connections to organisations linked the Chinese government, and ICAC remained fertile ground for mudslinging at Labor.
Here’s five things we learnt at Question Time on Wednesday:
1. RED-FACED WAR OF WORDS AS DPM CRACKS IT
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s colleagues couldn’t hide their shock when the Nationals leader sensationally lost his cool in a ranting tirade against his Labor counterpart during a question about drought.
His red-faced rage held a remarkable likeness to that of his predecessor Barnaby Joyce during highly emotional debates.
Asked to outline the government’s drought response by a friendly Coalition backbencher, Mr McCormack’s initially calm response went completely out the window in the face of interjections from Labor’s Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon.
Mr McCormack suddenly launched into a tirade against the opposition frontbencher.
“The Member for Hunter. Behave yourself occasionally,” Mr McCormack yelled.
“Country people are doing it tough. You should behave yourself, you are a disgrace.”
Mr Fitzgibbon returned in kind, initially rising to raise a point of order against Mr McCormack’s “personal attack” before launching into a tirade of his own.
“How is the Deputy Prime Minister unhinged attack on me relevant to the question asked,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“The farmers just want him to do something.”
2. IN LIEU OF A POSITION ON CHINA
Victorian MP Gladys Liu is under immense pressure to explain a “train wreck” interview where she couldn’t recall being a member of organisations linked to the Chinese government.
Speaking to Sky News host Andrew Bolt on Tuesday, Ms Liu also refused to call China’s actions in the South China Sea “theft,” and only said she backed the government’s position after repeated questioning.
In Question Time Mr Morrison was asked if Ms Liu’s initial reluctance to call out China’s activities in the South China Sea during the interview on Sky amounted to a failure to support bipartisanship on the issue.
“I refer the member to her statement which makes it very clear about her support for the government’s position in the longstanding position we have taken in relation to those matters,” he said.
It’s unlikely to be the last question Mr Morrison or Ms Liu is asked about this unfolding saga.
3. DUTTON CALLS SHORTEN A ‘DREAM LEADER’
If you thought pigs would sooner fly before the government spoke a kind word about former Labor leader Bill Shorten then you’d best start looking skyward.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was front and centre of Question Time on Wednesday, repeatedly asked by Coalition backbenchers to tell the House about the government’s “certain and stable” border security policies.
Keen to capitalise on the flip-flopping of Labor on turning back boats during the Abbott government, Mr Dutton waxed lyrical about Opposition leader Anthony Albanese’s shifting position, dubbing his predecessor Mr Shorten the comparative “dream leader” for his tougher position on boats.
“Come on, sucker, you make him look like the dream leader,” Mr Dutton said.
“You don’t stand for anything.”
Someone call Paul Kelly, sounds like the perfect opening for an acoustic ballad.
4. ON THE QUESTION OF INTEGRITY
As expected, the Coalition did not waste a single opportunity to reference NSW Labor’s ICAC woes in their responses to questions.
Asked by Labor when the Government would seek to introduce legislation to create a Commonwealth Integrity Commission — effectively a national version of ICAC — Attorney-General Christian Porter did not waste time drawing parallels.
Mr Porter criticised Labor for not supporting a commission model proposed by The Greens in the Lower House last year, but this week backing what he claimed was the “same model” in the Senate.
“Against that model in the last parliament, for the model in this parliament, in the Senate,” Mr Porter said
“Now, it couldn’t possibly be, Leader of the Opposition, that you were having a few integrity issues at the time. It couldn’t possibly be that.”
Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Though on a point of accuracy, Mr Porter also quipped Labor had upgraded from paper bags to “clear” plastic for cash donations.
The situation that unfolded at NSW Labor’s Sussex St Headquarters in 2015 was many things, but not even ICAC has suggested those involved in the allegedly illegal $100,000 donation were silly enough to use a “clear” bag.
5. STOP TRYING TO MAKE ‘WEDGE-ISLATION’ HAPPEN
Sorry Mr Albanese, it’s never going to happen.
Labor’s biggest gripe this week has been they feel the Coalition is obsessed with making them look bad, rather than focusing on other government matters.
Thus the term “wedge-islation” has emerged (get it, Albo reckons the Coalition is trying to “wedge” Labor by introducing legislation that either forces them to agree with the government or look bad).
In a point of order Mr Albanese once again rolled out the hilarious pun, but the Speaker soon told him to pipe down and that was the end of that.