Mr BOWEN (McMahon) (14:53): My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Yesterday the Queensland budget confirmed a $16 billion cut from Queensland schools and hospitals, stating: The most significant Federal change was an $80 billion funding cut to all States for schools and hospitals. This is a massive cost shift by the Commonwealth. Acting Prime Minister, given the Queensland government has identified the problem, why does this government still ask, 'Where is the problem'? The SPEAKER: Again, this question falls into that difficulty. The federal government is not responsible for the Premier of Queensland nor the statements he makes. If he wishes to rephrase his question to make it pertinent to the Acting Prime Minister— Mr BOWEN: Madam Speaker, with respect, and to be clear, I was asking the Acting Prime Minister about cuts made by his government. The SPEAKER: No, you were not. You asked— Mr BOWEN: The $80 billion federal cuts which applied to states and territories. The SPEAKER: If you wish that to be your question, phrase it that way, because that is not the way it is currently phrased. You were asking about what the Premier of Queensland had to say. Mr BOWEN: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Acting Prime Minister. It goes to the Queensland budget statement and the $16 billion cuts and the statement that 'the most significant federal change was an $80 billion funding cut to all states for schools and hospitals' and that 'this is a massive cost shift by the Commonwealth'. I ask the Acting Prime Minister why he will not recognise that this is a serious problem for states delivering schools and hospitals. The SPEAKER: Again, what you are asking is— Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Just one moment. If he would simply rephrase the question to say, 'Why is a cut being made?' it can be asked as a responsible question. But you keep referring to what the Premier of Queensland had to say. Mr Burke: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. While the quotation is from a state budget, the quotation is about the impact of a federal government decision. The Acting Prime Minister is being asked about the impact of that federal government decision. The relevance is not driven by what we are quoting but rather the substance of the words. The SPEAKER: I am sorry, but I think under standing order 98 a minister can only be questioned on matters with which he or she is responsible. Also, questions must not ask ministers for an expression of opinion. You are asking the Acting Prime Minister for an expression of opinion on the Premier's remarks. Mr Burke: No; Madam Speaker— The SPEAKER: I am not entertaining debate. If the Acting Prime Minister wishes to answer the question, I will let it stand. But I would say to the member for McMahon: kindly phrase your questions so that they are within the standing orders.