Mr CLARE ( Blaxland ) ( 14:58 ): My question is to the Prime Minister. Two weeks ago a taped conversation between a journalist and management at the ABC surfaced. It revealed that an ABC article critical of the Prime Minister's second-rate NBN was blocked by management, because they did not want to upset 'the Turnbull camp'. Can the Prime Minister advise the House if he or any members of his current or former office have had any contact with ABC management in relation to stories critical of his second-rate NBN? Mr Pyne: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This is a question wholly within the confines of the ABC. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the Prime Minister's responsibilities and therefore he cannot possibly answer— Opposition members interjecting — The SPEAKER: The Leader of the House will resume his seat. The member for Watson will resume his seat. Everyone else can resume their seats too, including the member for Ryan. I will ask the Leader of the House to repeat his point of order. I could not hear it through the interjections. If there are interjections people will be leaving under 94(a). The Leader of the House. Mr Pyne: The question is about internal management practices within the ABC that have been alleged by a former journalist at the ABC. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the responsibilities of the Prime Minister, and I think therefore it should be ruled out of order. Government members interjecting— Mr Danby interjecting— The SPEAKER: Members on my right will resume their seats. The member for Melbourne Ports will leave under 94(a). The Manager of Opposition Business on the point of order. Mr Burke: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: the last part of the question goes specifically to the actions of the Prime Minister or his office—it goes quite specifically to that. That is what is being asked. If the question was only internal to another organisation it might be another thing. This is about the actions of the Prime Minister or his office in dealing with the management. Mr Pyne: Mr Speaker— Ms MacTiernan: Are you politically interfering with the management of the ABC? The SPEAKER: The member for Perth will leave under 94(a). The member for Perth then left the chamber. Mr Pyne: Mr Speaker, further on the point of order, there has been absolutely no suggestion whatsoever that any actions have been taken by the Prime Minister either as Prime Minister or as Minister for Communications. Question time is not an expedition in fishing—it is not a fishing exercise. If the opposition has any evidence to put to the House, that is a different matter—but they cannot simply raise matters on the never-never and expect an answer. It is not within the standing orders. Mr Burke: Again on the point of order, Mr Speaker: we are allowed quite specifically under standing orders to ask about public affairs. We are able under the standing orders quite specifically to ask about the actions of a minister or his office. This is squarely within the standing orders, and the actions of the Leader of the House in trying to suppress the question demonstrate exactly why it is in the public interest that it be asked. The SPEAKER: I have listened to the Leader of the House and the member for Watson. The last part of the question I do not think is quite in order. I am going to allow the member for Blaxland to rephrase it. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Sure. My recollection of the question was that it did not ask whether there had been any action; it stated it. Mr Snowdon interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Lingiari is warned. I will ask the member for Blaxland to read the final part of the question. Mr CLARE: I am happy to, Mr Speaker. Can the Prime Minister advise the House if he or any member of his current or former office has had any contact with ABC management in relation to stories critical of his second-rate NBN? The SPEAKER: I am going to allow the question.