Question time in federal parliament

QUESTION TIME IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

THE THINGS WE LEARNT:

* The French ambassador Christophe Lecourtier was granted access to the House of Representatives chamber to hear Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten speak on indulgence about terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, Ankara, Tunisia, Mali and Nigeria.

* Australians are responding with optimism to the government's "work, save and invest" philosophy, Treasurer Scott Morrison enthusiastically told MPs.

* Australia won't be sending in combat troops to counter Islamic State, Turnbull said in a none-too-veiled slapdown of former PM Tony Abbott and former defence minister Kevin Andrews. It would be "unreasonable and unwise" as well as in violation of Australia's agreement with Iraq." Besides, it wasn't US policy either.

* Screening of the 12,000 refugees Australia is taking from Syria will not be compromised. "If we see a security concern in one of these applications, that particular case will be put aside," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said.

* Special Minister of State Mal Brough continues to enjoy the PM's confidence despite allegations over the Slipper-Ashby affair.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO SPIN: PM's talks with world leaders about terror threat; free trade deals; global growth targets.

WHAT LABOR WANTED TO TALK ABOUT: The opposition goes back to the GST well, asking how a 15 per cent impost would impact adversely on home buyers and renters.

YOU SAID WHAT?

"I don't feel I've been away at all. Nothing has changed," Turnbull laments the first question from Labor about a 15 per cent GST "that isn't government policy".

TOP TWEET:

"So making people poorer is better for them according to Thurston Turnbull the third," Labor MP Rob Mitchell goes back to an oldie-but-a-goodie Gilligan's Island reference.