Mr ABBOTT (Warringah—Prime Minister) (14:16): Fair enough. We are capable of robust debate in this place. I think Australians are capable of robust debate, and that is what I want to facilitate in this country. Mr Conroy interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Charlton is warned! Mr ABBOTT: I want it to be civil—of course I want it to be civil—but in the end the truth is that, when people are arguing things that they feel passionately about, it will inevitably be at times offensive, at times insulting, and I do not believe that the mere fact that someone might be put off by what is being said should mean that the person speaking should feel the full sanction of law against them. That is our position. I reject any suggestion from the member who asked the question that Australia is a bigoted country. We are not. We are a decent and a fair country. Yes, occasionally people give in to unworthy impulse in this country, as in others, but we are the freest, the fairest and the most decent country on earth. Mr Burke: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The tactics have clearly been provocative, using the term 'bigot' constantly. In the interests of free speech, I let the question stand. We will move to the next question. Mr Burke: I have a point of order, Madam Speaker. The SPEAKER: On what? Mr Burke: First of all, on my right to take a point of order. The SPEAKER: Please do not shout. Mr Burke: Well, Madam Speaker, as you have noted, there is some noise within the chamber. The SPEAKER: Usually coming from that direction. Mr Burke: That does not change the fact that I need to make sure I am heard. Under standing order 86, when someone stands they have a right to be heard on a point of order, and to have the practice whereby you allow the Prime Minister to conclude— The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. Mr Burke: Can I not conclude my point of order? The SPEAKER: No, you may not, and I will tell you why. Resume your seat. I would suggest that the Manager of Opposition Business reads the Practice a little more carefully. He will find a whole section in there which will inform him as to when I may ignore someone who stands on a point of order or cut them short because there is a presumption about what is being done and how it is being used. So I would refer you to the Practice for further reading. I call the honourable member for Petrie. Mr Burke: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister has not completed his answer? The member for Petrie will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call. Mr Burke: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. If he has not concluded his answer, this might be the one occasion I can take a point of order. The SPEAKER: If you do it properly. Mr Burke: On the issue of the way the word 'bigotry' has been used— The SPEAKER: What is the point of order? Mr Burke: The point of order is on proper conduct of this chamber, Madam Speaker. The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call. Mr ABBOTT: I conclude with this observation. No-one wants to see bigotry or intolerance in our society, but I say this: the best counter to a bad argument is a good one, and the best antidote to bigotry is decency, proclaimed by people engaging in a free and fair debate.