Question Time Live Feb 22 2011… Open Thread

2:15

Gillard has to defend Government funding for the War Memorial and it’s workforce in the face of cuts to services at national monument. Tony Abbott wants her pinned for wasting money elsewhere but starving the centre of Australia’s commemoration of war dead.
The PM says the allocation of $38 million is enough.

2:30

No bookie would take odds on Christophe Pyne being tossed out by the Speaker today. He is in a mood to interject and Harry Jenkins is adopting the tone of a frustrated parent.
Gillard praises her flood levy legislation and vows not to take the “soft option” of going further into debt.
“It is time to put the politics aside and to support the levy,” she tells Abbott.
When Liberal Andrew Robb rises to ask a question, the Speaker’s attention is diverted from Pyn to noisy Labor MPs.
Jenkins tells they they get “white line fever” when they come not QT, and should no treat it as a sporting contest.

2:40

Treasure Wayne Swan explains “the modest temporary levy” the Government wants passed by Parliament to pay for “rebuilding Queensland”.
“Up until now there hasn’t been a levy they didn’t support,” said Swan of the Opposition.
Pyne then switches topics to the AWU chiefs who called Trade Minister Craig Emerson “a dishonorable rat”. Did Swan, an AWU supporter, condemn the comment.
Unfortunately for Pyne and the public gallery, the question was ruled out of order because it did not go to Swan’s official duties.

3:06
Christopher Pyne caught muttering “lies” as Julia Gillard attacks Tony Abbott’s time as health minister. The Speaker forces him to withdraw the unparliamentary term, which he does with some reluctance. Then Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has to do the same after an unacceptable interjection. Hare Jenkins then has to shout to Liberal Andrew Lamming who was ignoring his direction to sit down.
And this has been a relatively quiet afternoon.

3:20

Treasure Wayne Swan explains “the modest temporary levy” the Government wants passed by Parliament to pay for “rebuilding Queensland”.
“Up until now there hasn’t been a levy they didn’t support,” said Swan of the Opposition.
Pyne then switches topics to the AWU chiefs who called Trade Minister Craig Emerson “a dishonorable rat”. Did Swan, an AWU supporter, condemn the comment.
Unfortunately for Pyne and the public gallery, the question was ruled out of order because it did not go to Swan’s official duties.

3:27

Defense Minister Stephen Smith speaks about an inquiry into allegations of predatory sexual behavior on HMAS Success and warns:” It is not a good read.”
It revealed failures of personal behavior and leadership which could not be tolerated.
He tabled an edited version of the inquiry report by Roger Giles QC.
The allegations involves activities on the ship and ashore during a March 2009 deployment to South East Asia and China.

3:35

Gillard ends QT and reveals 40 NSW rescue workers were on a RAAF aircraft on their was to the New Zealand quake zone.
Queensland and South Australian emergency specialists have also volunteered.
The PM said latest news was not good, with reports of damage to tourist areas and a youth hostel.
It was “a major catastrophe for New Zealand”.
Tony Abbott backed Gillard’s sentiments.