Mr ALBANESE (2.21 p.m.)—My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister identify one other venue in Australia—let alone one with the spectacular harbour views from Kirribilli—where one can entertain 225 people and feed them oysters, prawns and other gourmet food for less than $10 a head? Is the Prime Minister aware that the cocktail food menu at St George Leagues Club for an equivalent function of two hours is good value at $22 a head? Prime Minister, when are you going to come clean on the real cost of your taxpayer funded function at Kirribilli?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop—Mr Speaker—

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER—Order!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop—Mr Speaker, I rose to make this point of order—

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER—Order! The member for Mackellar will resume her seat. When a member has the call, the member will be heard. I will take action.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop—I rose to raise my point of order, whilst the question was halfway through, to point out that a question—

Mr Danby interjecting—

The SPEAKER—The member for Melbourne Ports is warned!

Mr Laurie Ferguson interjecting—

The SPEAKER—The member for Reid is warned!

Mr Ripoll—Is that the Shroud of Turin?

Mr Abbott—Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I heard from members opposite a reference to the Shroud of Turin. We really should not have that kind of behaviour in the House, especially from this opposition leader’s opposition. I think that reference should be withdrawn and apologised for.

The SPEAKER—The Leader of the House has raised a point. I note the concern he raises, but I do not believe that that is unparliamentary language. The honourable member for Mackellar will be heard.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop—I rose to make the point of order that the question being asked by the member opposite had a long preface, which is against the standing orders. I rose part way through the question, which I note he has now completed, to make that point of order. For the future, it has become the practice of the opposition to use long prefaces to questions, which are quite out of order.

The SPEAKER—I listened carefully to the question. The question was in order. I call the Prime Minister.

Mr HOWARD—In answer to the question, I repeat the answer that I gave yesterday: all the additional costs of this function have been borne by the Liberal Party.