Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:40): Why doesn't the opposition back up Australia? Why do they look for political differentiation when this is about our national interests? This mob never had a phone call, let alone a meeting, during their entire last term in office—nothing. This mob were happy to have President Xi speak in this parliament but had no conversations with them the entire time. We have made it very clear that the actions of the PLA are unprofessional and unacceptable. And I would have thought that it was not a hard ask— Ms Catherine King interjecting— The SPEAKER: The minister for infrastructure will cease interjecting. Mr ALBANESE: for you to say, 'Yes, we agree; we are at one in defending the Australian Defence Force,' rather than trying to send confusing messages to the People's Republic of China. I would have thought it wasn't a hard ask. We have made all of the appropriate representations. We continue to say we will agree and cooperate with China where we can and we will disagree where we must. On this we must and on this we have. Mr Neumann interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Blair will— Mr Dutton interjecting— Mr Albanese interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister will cease interjecting. Ms O'Neil interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Blair will resume his seat. The Minister for Home Affairs will cease interjecting and refer to members by their correct titles. The Prime Minister in continuation. Mr ALBANESE: Thanks, Mr Speaker. I note the anger on behalf of China. What we are doing— The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister hasn't concluded his answer, so he shall just pause. The Leader of the Opposition has a point of order. We'll hear that. Mr Dutton: It's on relevance. The question was: why hasn't the Prime Minister shown strength of character to call the Chinese president? Why can't you stand up for our country? The SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Mr Hamilton interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Groom. The Leader of the Opposition has raised his point of order, which he's entitled to do. The Leader of the House is also able to respond to the point of order. Mr Burke: On the point of order, at the end of it we had a complete abuse. The anger gets the better of the Leader of the Opposition and he abuses it every time. The SPEAKER: Order! First day, new session—the same rules apply: everyone can make a point of order on relevance; they shall not add extra material or extra comments or extra grabs at the end of the points of order. The Prime Minister is talking about the issue. He is giving information to the House about the incident. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition has raised the point of order. The Prime Minister is being directly relevant under the standing orders. He has the call. Mr ALBANESE: The senior members of the government received briefings through all of the appropriate bodies. We made clear our position, both privately and publicly, unequivocally: our opposition to what occurred. I would have thought that there are times when an opposition leader has the strength to say: I'm with the Australian government on this. What is weak is trying to look for political differentiation— Mr Hamilton interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Groom is now warned. Mr ALBANESE: where this is an issue, where you are either on the Australian government's side, and on the side of the Australia Defence Force and its personnel, or you are questioning that and therefore undermining the government's position in relation to the representations we have made to China. The ADF were in international waters and international air, providing support for an international action against North Korea. I would have thought that it wouldn't be beyond the opposition to say, 'We agree with the government.' (Time expired)