Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

The first refers to the Practice. It was actually just observed then by the Minister for Health. Page 566 of House of Representatives Practice discusses where ministers seek to add to or to correct an answer. While the tradition the minister just followed was for an answer given today, there are in Practice, on page 566, precedents, going all the way back to 1969, of corrections being given where incorrect information has been given to the House on a previous day.

On 14 May, there were multiple statements that we now know to be incorrect, from the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, which they have taken no opportunity today in the House, at the first available opportunity, to correct. The Prime Minister told the House on 14 May:

The truth is that six million Australians are benefiting from a JobKeeper program …

He then said:

Six million Australians today are getting support through the JobKeeper program.

The Treasurer said:

The reality is that this JobKeeper program … is supporting some six million workers …

The Treasurer went again, referring to 'six million workers' that were now covered by businesses that were formally enrolled for the JobKeeper payment. And, finally he said:

… I would like the House to acknowledge some six million workers are now covered by the JobKeeper payments …

Not only were none of those statements true but, in terms of the procedures of the House, the protocol that has been in this place for a very long time about incorrect information being corrected has not occurred, and I'm asking what the appropriate processes are for the House to follow as a result of that.

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