Fed: Question time peace lasts only 43 minutes

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Fed: Question time peace lasts only 43 minutes

By James Grubel, Chief Political Correspondent

CANBERRA, Aug 19 AAP - Speaker Neil Andrew's quest to make question time less combativeand more informative lasted exactly 43 minutes today.

Mr Andrew confirmed he had spoken to government business manager Tony Abbott and hisLabor counterpart Wayne Swan during the winter break to discuss improved standards.

He wants less of the cross-chamber abuse, often fuelled by Mr Abbott's regular useof Dorothy Dix questions which give him the ability to attack Labor's union links.

For nine questions and 43 minutes of question time today, Mr Andrew appeared to have triumphed.

In one Dorothy Dixer, Prime Minister John Howard even praised Labor leader Simon Creanand former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam for helping Australia win a lucrative gascontract with China.

But the uneasy truce was never going to last.

Mr Swan made it clear earlier in the day that the appalling standards were all thegovernment's fault and he compared Mr Abbott to notorious criminal Chopper Read.

"I said before last parliament rose, putting Mr Abbott in charge of parliamentary affairsfor the Howard government is like putting Chopper Read in charge of a law and order campaign,"

Mr Swan told reporters.

Mr Abbott had his chance to taunt the ALP when New South Wales Liberal Alby Schultzasked a question about secret ballots before strikes.

Mr Abbott used the question to attack Labor's union links, and Australian Workers Unionboss Bill Ludwig.

He said Labor had been intimidated by Mr Ludwig into dumping support for secret ballots.

His comments sparked a flurry of Labor interjections and calls for Mr Andrew to take action.

An exasperated Speaker said he agreed Mr Abbott's language had been somewhat provocative,but there was little he could do under parliamentary rules.

"Question time today has been the model of what Australia expects - that is questionshave been asked seeking information, and information has been given," Mr Andrew said.

But after 43 minutes, the new, informative and cooperative question time had gone andthe cross-chamber testiness had returned.

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KEYWORD: QUESTIONS NIGHTLEAD