Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (14:00): My question is to the Prime Minister. Today in the coalition party room the former Prime Minister challenged the current Prime Minister over his lack of economic leadership. Honourable members interjecting— Mr SHORTEN: Will the Prime Minister finally show some leadership and rule out retrospective changes to negative gearing? The SPEAKER: Members on my right were not only interjecting, but interjecting so loudly I could not hear the question. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Members on my left will cease interjecting. The Leader of the Opposition will ask his question again, and I would urge members on both sides not to interject. The Leader of the Opposition has the call. Mr SHORTEN: My question is to the Prime Minister. Today in the coalition party room the former Prime Minister challenged the current Prime Minister over his lack of economic leadership. Will the Prime Minister finally show some leadership and rule out retrospective changes to negative gearing? Mr Nikolic: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I refer you to page 554 of Practice, which specifically prescribes that questions about party room matters are clearly out of order. Mr Burke: Mr Speaker, on the point of order: Practice also makes clear that ministers are expected to be across matters that are in the media. This one is well and truly in the media, and the question itself goes to what policy action the Prime Minister will take. The SPEAKER: I am not going to hear point of order after point of order on the subject. Certainly the standing orders do make clear certain things with respect to parties. But, as I explained yesterday to the member for Bass—indeed on another point I think he made—I do allow latitude in both answers and questions. It has been the practice of many Speakers to allow preambles to questions. That is something that I have been reflecting on. It goes right back to the 1960s. In any event, the second part of the question was certainly in order, and I give the call to the Prime Minister.