Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray Darling Basin) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Will the government release the contents of the Greenhill Caliburn report—yes or no?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is exactly the same question that I was asked a few minutes ago. They are so short on questions that they are actually repeating their questions.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, just answer the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When it comes to the Caliburn report, again, this is a report that in fact has been commissioned to examine the business case robustly, as it correctly states in the contract. That is entirely what an appropriately sensible government should do. In fact, that is what those opposite did in many cases. The government has commissioned a number of organisations to look at a number of aspects of the NBN and its operations through a range of different activities. Those opposite suddenly want to say that, on the one hand, there is no scrutiny going on and then, when they suddenly read the front page of the paper having done no work themselves—they never bother to actually ask a question themselves—they go, ‘Oh, my goodness!’

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order on relevance. This, Mr President, as you must appreciate, is completely hopeless. The minister was asked one question: will the document be released—yes or no? On whatever view of the meaning of the words ‘direct relevance’ you may take, it is not possible for the minister to address that question by carrying on in the manner in which he has been carrying on now for a minute and 10 seconds.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are two minutes to answer the question. There are 50 seconds remaining. I cannot instruct the minister how to answer the question.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a yes or no question.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot instruct the minister how to answer the question but I do draw the minister’s attention to the question and the need to supply an answer to the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President, for pointing out to those opposite that I have two minutes to answer the question and you cannot direct me how quickly to answer their question.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not; I am supporting the President’s ruling. The heart of the issue is that, in a stunning revelation to those opposite, this government is engaged in serious—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, you should come to an answer to the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I still have 20 seconds, though, is my understanding, Mr President.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have only 20 seconds.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This government engaged a company to provide information, as it should. That is properly the role of the cabinet. It is properly the role of cabinet to seek this information. To complete my answer, Mr President, the answer is no.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray Darling Basin) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Could Senator Conroy inform the Senate—having said it is the proper role of cabinet to seek this information—whether the decision to appoint Greenhill Caliburn was made by the full cabinet or made by Senator Wong or made by Senator Wong and the minister as joint shareholders?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As Senator Birmingham is well aware, we are not in a position to outline what cabinet decisions have been made. We are not here to provide a running commentary for the benefit of those opposite on what cabinet decisions were made, when cabinet meets or what announcements will be made. But I can say that the interest of those opposite in probity is an excellent thing. It is an excellent thing to have. It was missing with Mr Turnbull’s $10 billion water policy. It was missing when it came to the Adelaide to Darwin railway. It was missing over and over again.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: it is plain the minister intends to continue to treat your authority with contempt. He was asked to name by whom the decision was made. He was not asked about cabinet discussions or cabinet process; he was asked whether the decision was made by cabinet, by Senator Wong or by himself and Senator Wong in collaboration. Which is it?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: the minister has been answering directly relevant to the question that was asked—to the extent of what he can make out of it. Clearly, the minister is explaining that it is a decision of government. That really underpins the ridiculousness of the question asked and, of course, what they are now arguing about. This is not a point of order that has being taken. It in fact spilled into the argument about the question and, on that basis, there is no point of order. There is no point of order that is being raised by the other side. The minister continues to be relevant to the question that was asked.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, you have 18 seconds remaining to address the question that has been asked of you.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As has been argued now for some time, Mr President, we do not go to cabinet deliberations and cabinet discussions. (Time expired)

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray Darling Basin) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Was the minister a party to the decision to appoint Greenhill Caliburn? If the minister was not a party to that decision, how on earth can the Australian people or the Australian markets have any confidence in his capacity to run the NBN?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As has already been observed during the questions so far today, Senator Wong and I are joint shareholders. So decisions about the NBN are joint decisions. That is properly set out in all of the guidelines and all of the cabinet statements. This is a joint portfolio area between Senator Wong and me. When the letter from the government is written—

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my point of order goes to relevance. The question was whether the minister was party to a decision to appoint Greenhill Caliburn. He has not addressed that question directly or indirectly.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I must say that, from what I have listened to so far, I have formed the view that the minister is certainly answering the question. The minister has nine seconds remaining, if there is anything else to answer.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. For those opposite, whose research document is actually the Australian, the penny has not dropped—they have actually got it wrong. (Time expired)