Mr TRUSS (Wide Bay—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development) (14:51): The question indeed contains a great deal of argument which I would dispute. The reality is that this government has taken substantial steps in the short time it has been in office to actually improve the environment for the manufacturing industry in Australia and, in particular, for the car-manufacturing sector. It is unfortunate that I have to report to the House that it is well known to everybody who has been observing what has happened in the parliament over the last few weeks that the opposition, who, today are feigning concern about the fate of the industry— Ms Plibersek: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. I take deep personal offence at the suggestion— The SPEAKER: I am sorry, there is no point of order. Ms Plibersek: I am asking for a withdrawal. The SPEAKER: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. I said: the deputy leader will resume her seat. There is no point of order. Mr Burke: Madam Speaker, on a point of order: under standing order 90, a deeply serious reflection has just been made on members. It should be withdrawn. The SPEAKER: Yesterday I ruled on that point of order. The ruling is the same: that if there is a reflection on a particular member, then the standing order is infringed; if it is general, it is not. That is a consistent ruling in this place. Mr Burke: Madam Speaker, if you are ruling that, so long as they are offending more than one of us at a time, it is okay— The SPEAKER: That is a constant ruling that is made in this place. Mr TRUSS: I do not wish to, in any way, downplay the concern that members opposite feel on this occasion, but please do not impugn our motives either. We have worked constructively to try and provide a better environment for the car industry in this country. You have had the opportunity to indicate support and to take a significant cost, around $400 a vehicle, off that industry by supporting us in our endeavours to get rid of the carbon tax. You would not have sought to put a significant tax on fringe benefits, had you been really concerned— Ms Plibersek: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. The Acting Prime Minister continues to use a figure that is wrong. He knows it is wrong. The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order; it is an argument, and that is in the wrong place. Mr TRUSS: So I take offence at the way in which the opposition is seeking to imply some kind of ill intent on this side towards the car industry which we as Australians admire, and for which we as Australians have worked together and are determined to do what we can to make it a better industry for our nation as a whole. The SPEAKER: Does the member wish to raise a point of order? Mr Brendan O'Connor: Madam Speaker, I seek leave to move the following motion. The SPEAKER: I am sorry, you cannot do it while the minister is on his feet. Mr Brendan O'Connor: I can seek leave to move the following motion, and I am seeking leave, and the motion is— The SPEAKER: You can only rise on a point of order while the minister is speaking. Mr Brendan O'Connor: I am seeking leave to move the following— Mr Pyne interjecting— Mr Brendan O'Connor: Yes, you can do that. You have done that. You did it, Chris. You've always done it. The SPEAKER: I will hear the Leader of the House. Mr Pyne: Madam Speaker, on a point of order: we perfectly understand if the opposition want to move a motion or seek leave, but the correct course in which to do so is between two items of business— The SPEAKER: Correct. Mr Pyne: and if they would read the standing orders, they would know that and they could calm down. When the Acting Prime Minister resumes his seat then they will be entitled to seek the call. Mr Burke: Madam Speaker, on the point of order: there have been a number of occasions—and I have raised them previously directly with you—when the Leader of the House has risen, claiming it was a point of order, and then moved that the member be no longer heard. I have raised it with you, and you have told me that it was in order. Mr Pyne: Madam Speaker, on the same point of order: moving that a member be no longer heard is a procedural resolution that can be moved at any time. Seeking leave to move a motion is not a procedural motion— The SPEAKER: Correct. Mr Pyne: and therefore has to be between two items of business. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the House is correct. Mr Brendan O'Connor: Madam Speaker— The SPEAKER: The member for Gorton will resume his seat. Mr Brendan O'Connor: Madam Speaker— The SPEAKER: The member for Gorton will resume his seat! The member will resume his seat! The Acting Prime Minister was still continuing his answer. He has the call. Mr TRUSS: In addition to the matters and the initiatives that I have mentioned earlier, let us never forget that there is still more than $1 billion in the Automotive Transformation Scheme which has not been allocated. So there is significant funding there, still available, to assist the automotive industry in this country. So suggestions that reductions of $500 million, or whatever it might be at some stage in the future, have made any impact in relation to the industry at this time are clearly nonsense. There is substantial funding still available. It may be forgotten that the original question was actually about the welfare of the workers, and let me assure you that we share those concerns. As I said earlier, we will be working with the South Australian government and the industry itself and all other interested parties to try and find new workplace opportunities, and we call on the opposition to work with us constructively to create the kind of environment in this country which encourages manufacturers and supports those who invest in this country. The SPEAKER: Now the member for Gorton has the call.