Mr Shorten is seeking to suspend standing orders over Mr Turnbull's inability to discipline the National Party ministers who did not support the government's position on the Adler shotgun.
And again with the same issue.
Mr Turnbull reminds the house the decision to put the ban in place was a decision of the cabinet.
Mr Shorten returns to his theme and wants to know why the ministers have not been disciplined.
Mr Turnbull says he "cannot claim to be an expert on the practices of the Senate" but refers to a tradition that if a vote is going to be supported by both the government and the opposition then frontbenchers do not have to be present.
(Just as a reminder - Liberal ministers showed up and voted on this matter but it was National ministers who abstained.)
Mr Shorten asks about a meeting of the National Party held last night after which three ministers failed to vote along government lines (this is in relation to the Adler shotgun ban).
He wants to know what the consequences are for ministers who do not vote along party lines.
Mr Turnbull says he cannot possibly be expected to answer a question about a meeting of a party of which he is not a member.
Question time begins with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten asking Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about Peter Dutton's comments.
Mr Turnbull says he does not accept the way Mr Shorten has categorised Mr Dutton's comments.
He says "the greatest mistake made in immigration was by those opposite".
"They can't stand the fact that he succeeded where they failed."
Back to topNearly question time.
National Party senator Bridget McKenzie is giving an interview defending the majority of gun owners who are law abiding and yet are painted as criminals and law breakers.
I'm just noting the lack of Coalition MPs rushing out to do media interviews about Lebanese Muslim Australians.
Not mincing his words was Greens leader Richard Di Natale.
​He said Mr Dutton was "a scumbag".
"Does the minister think my Italian relatives should not have come here because of the mafia?" he asked.
Mr Dutton's comments were also the topic of conversation in this morning's Coalition party room meeting.
Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman said they were "unhelpful" but Michael Sukkar, who is of Lebanese descent, was on Team Dutton.
And that's it for the PM and Senator Cash.
Senator Cash is tight lipped about the construction watchdog legislation.
It will be up to the Senate to decide when it comes on for a vote, she says.
Mr Turnbull is asked if Malcolm Fraser did the wrong thing in the 1970s in admitting Lebanese Muslims into Australia.
"There is no question that there are lessons to be learned from previous immigration policies," Mr Turnbull says.
"It's fair for all of us to reflect on past policies."
Mr Dutton is "a thoughtful and considered and compassionate immigration minister", Mr Turnbull says.
Mr Turnbull is asked about the National Party's behaviour on guns in the Senate last night.
"In our parties backbenchers are able to cross the floor...and we respect that right," he says.
Senator Cash tries to help him out but the Prime Minister excuses it as "special Senate business".
Mr Turnbull is asked about Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's comments about Lebanese Muslims.
"Peter has been outstanding in his work," Mr Turnbull says.
"People smugglers have been stopped, people are not drowning at sea."
Mr Turnbull is asked if the changes might lead to a rise in union membership if it leads to increased confidence in unions.
He chuckles.
Back to topEmployment Minister Michaelia Cash is talking up the government's registered organisations legislation which passed the Senate last night.
She says it is vital that union members' money should not be misused on things like "sex toys" (which might be the first time that phrase has been used in the Prime Minister's courtyard).
Mr Turnbull is making a great effort to praise the "constructive cooperation" of the crossbench.
Mr Turnbull is speaking.
He is putting maximum pressure on Labor to "clean up the unions".
"But no, Labor stands up for the union bosses. We stand up for the thousands of union members," Mr Turnbull says.
But the government is confident.
The legislation is listed for debate in the Senate at 12.30 pm and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Employment Minister Michaelia Cash are about to hold a press conference.
Neither senator is prepared to say if the government's cooperation on whistleblower protections is enough to get their votes on the building watchdog legislation.
"Hell hath no fury like a crossbencher scorned," Senator Xenophon says when asked if he can trust the government to be good on its word.
He says between his own team and Senator Hinch they have enough votes to block legislation.
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