Mr COMBET (Charlton—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) (15:23): I thank my colleague the member for Newcastle for the question, because working with industry to clean up asbestos has been a feature of the work of the government, the trade union movement and the Labor Party for many years. In particular, on this side of the chamber we stand up and fight for the rights of victims of asbestos diseases. One of the things that I am most proud of from my time in the trade union movement was the achievement of a multibillion-dollar compensation fund for victims of James Hardie. In that dispute— Mr Pyne interjecting— Mr COMBET: I have noted what you have said. The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business will withdraw. Mr Pyne: I withdraw. The SPEAKER: The minister will withdraw. Mr COMBET: I withdraw. I am very proud that, in that dispute with James Hardie, the law firm in which the Prime Minister was once a partner, Slater and Gordon, which has been the subject of some discussion in recent times, acted as my legal advisers. In fact, that firm and many other labour law firms have worked very hard over numerous years to fight for compensation for asbestos victims. On the other side of the chamber, the deputy opposition leader of course acted for a company against victims, to oppose their compensation. She acted for a company that had this to say in 1977: 'Even if the workers die like flies, they will never be able to pin anything on CSR.' That is who you acted for. Ms Julie Bishop: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I was at university in 1977 and was not working as a lawyer anywhere. The SPEAKER: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. The minister has the call. Mr COMBET: Well, there has been a lot said about the morality and the conduct of lawyers in acting on behalf of their clients; where is the morality in that—to represent a company with that sort of view, that workers are going to die like flies? On asbestos, we know where we stand. And we know where you stand. Ms Gambaro: Who's embarrassed now? The SPEAKER: The member for Brisbane will excuse herself from the chamber under standing order 94(a). The member for Brisbane then left the chamber. Mr COMBET: I think it is noteworthy that, when we were conducting, in the labour movement, the campaign to achieve justice for asbestos victims of James Hardie, I received, as leader of the trade union movement, a lot of support from Labor governments. I did not have one call or one iota of assistance from the Howard government or its then health minister, Tony Abbott—not one iota of assistance. We know where we are on this position. The only thing that the Leader of the Opposition has contributed to this, that is of memory to anyone, is an insult to Bernie Banton. A kick in the guts to a dying man it was. A kick in the guts to a dying man—that is your contribution to this issue. This government has a very proud record of standing up, cleaning up asbestos and fighting on behalf of victims, and we will not be lectured to by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition about ethics and morality, or you, hiding behind her. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! Ms Julie Bishop: Madam Speaker— The SPEAKER: I am on my feet, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. I understand you want the call, but when I am on my feet— Mr Forrest: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I have raised this point of order consistently before: standing order 65. It would help the process of the House immensely if you could enforce that standing order, that members should address their remarks through the chair. That 'you' across the chamber, especially with a pointed finger, does nothing to improve the behaviour of the House. Please enforce it. The SPEAKER: I thank the member for Mallee, and I would completely agree that I, obviously, had nothing to do with any of those issues, and that is the point: the questions actually go through the chair. Ms Gillard: I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper. We have extended the time of question time to ensure the opposition has had the usual number of questions, notwithstanding the intervention in debate by the member for Kennedy. So, the opposition, the miserable failure, has had the usual amount of time—very embarrassing, but we have brought it to an end for them. Mr Hockey: Sit down! The SPEAKER: Order! The member for North Sydney will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a). The member for North Sydney then left the chamber.