House debates Questions without Notice
Oil for Food Program
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security
2:45 pm
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. I refer to the Deputy Prime Minister’s statement that the findings of the United States Department of Defense September 2003 report which names the AWB were unsubstantiated and did not use the word ‘kickbacks’. Will the Deputy Prime Minister now confirm to parliament that he misled the House, given that the report refers explicitly to kickbacks, including a finding that ‘former Iraqi ministers had provided information indicating illicit kickbacks were standard practice for oil for food contracts’?
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Griffith would be aware that to accuse a member of misleading the House requires a substantive motion.
Roger Price Chifley, Australian Labor Party
Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. You did not pick up the Deputy Prime Minister when he accused the opposition of misleading the House. We have to have a consistent rule here.
David Hawker Speaker
The Chief Opposition Whip will resume his seat. As he was probably observing, I am still calling the Deputy Prime Minister to answer the question.
Mark Vaile Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade
Mr Speaker, I have not misled the House. In the document, when it talks about Australian wheat, it says ‘potentially overpriced’. The member for Griffith is referring to the preamble at the start of the report.