Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Fadden's specific words about reinstating the robodebt on vulnerable people were that it:

… wasn't conscionable. So the view was to kick it into the long grass until so much time as the question had been resolved.

The member for Fadden said that, 'by deftly manoeuvring the Cabinet Secretary', he was able to delay a discussion on reincluding vulnerable people. But, when asked by counsel assisting why he didn't just do as Keenan had and say, 'Not happening,' he said:

… at the time I was getting a fair bit of pressure from the Cabinet Office that to meet the savings requirements, this was needed, and that I needed to bring forward a Cabinet Submission on this.

When pressed about the Cabinet Secretary's authority to force this being brought forward and about whether ministerial responsibility is subject to the Cabinet Secretary's desires, the member for Fadden said:

The Cabinet Secretary speaks on behalf of the Prime Minister … So if the Cabinet Secretary is not happy, the next call is coming from the Prime Minister.

Asked in a different way, the member for Fadden said:

The Prime Minister signs off on everything that he wants to come forward.

The member for Fadden made very clear in the transcript—which I'm sure you haven't read—that the member for Cook made him do it, Your Honour!

See this speech in context