Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (14:36): My question is to the Prime Minister. The member for Warringah met Senator Hanson yesterday to discuss the government's agenda. Was the member for Warringah commissioned by the Prime Minister to conduct these negotiations or was he acting of his own initiative? Mr Pyne: Mr Speaker, questions to ministers and the Prime Minister need to be within their areas of responsibility, and, while the Prime Minister's responsibilities are very broad, they do not run to the motivation for people— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: The Leader of the House will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The level of interjections prevented me from hearing the Leader of the House. This is not the way for the House to conduct itself. I had asked the member for Hughes already to cease interjecting, and he interjected right through the Leader of the House, preventing me hearing him. He can leave under 94(a). The member for Hughes then left the chamber. The SPEAKER: I would like the Leader of the House to make his point of order without interruption. Mr Pyne: Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, questions to ministers and the Prime Minister need to be within their areas of responsibility, and, while the Prime Minister's areas of responsibility are broad, they do not go to the motivations for why individual members or senators have cups of tea. Mr Husic: Or dinners at Wild Duck! The SPEAKER: The member for Chifley can leave under 94(a). The member for Chifley then left the chamber. Mr Burke: Mr Speaker, to the point of order: the question asked quite specifically whether the Prime Minister commissioned the member for Warringah to conduct those negotiations. Surely the Prime Minister is in charge of who he commissions to conduct negotiations. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the House. Mr Pyne: It is just spurious conjecture, Mr Speaker, and it is quite clearly ruled out under the standing orders. It is utterly hypothetical and it should not be allowed to stand. Mr Burke: Mr Speaker— The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The preamble was certainly out of order. I could easily rule the question out of order, but I have said previously that, where we can, I would prefer free-flowing debate. There was one specific question there about whether the Prime Minister had commissioned another member. I will allow the Prime Minister the opportunity to answer it in any way he sees fit, of course.