Phillip Barresi (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Is the minister aware of reports concerning the political activities of registered organisations under the Workplace Relations Act in the state of Victoria? What is the government’s response?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I think you will find an identical question was asked yesterday. Perhaps the member asking the question could clarify how it is different from yesterday’s question.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I heard the question, I believe it was a different question. I call the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have heard reports—indeed, an avalanche of criticism—about the activities of registered organisations, namely, certain trade unions and their officials who have been involved in the serial stacking of branches of the Labor Party in Victoria. This was confirmed yesterday by the member for Maribyrnong, who said that his demise as the member for Maribyrnong at the end of this parliament is the result of sleazy deals done by members of registered organisations.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: standing order 100(b) is currently being breached.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler would be well aware that standing order 100 applies to questions. It does not apply to answers.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, for the benefit of the House—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will resume his seat. I have ruled on the point of order you have raised. It is not to be debated. There is no debate on the point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It’s just wrong.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have asked me to rule, and I have ruled.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no doubt about it: there are deep divisions in the Australian Labor Party about this issue. When these sleazy deals are mentioned, one person’s name usually comes to the fore—Mr David Feeney. Mr Feeney, along with Mr Richard Marles, one of the union officials challenging the member for Corio for his preselection, was involved in setting up Transport 2020, a slush fund.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I refer to the standing order that says ‘a question fully answered must not be asked again’. Not only are we getting the same question as yesterday; we are now getting the same answer.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. I ruled the question in order. It is not appropriate to take a point of order after I have made that ruling on the question. The minister has begun his answer and the minister is in order.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I would like to raise a point of order. I refer you to page 188 of House of Representatives Practice, which states:

The opportunity to raise a point of order should not be misused to deliberately disrupt proceedings or to respond to debate. If this is, or is anticipated to be, the case, or if the Speaker believes that he or she is aware of the issues, Speakers have cut short the point of order ... Members have been disciplined by the Chair for raising spurious or frivolous points of order and for persisting with matters after the Chair has ruled.

Mr Speaker, to assist you I bring that to your attention.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the House for his point of order. He raises a valid point of order. Ministers should be given the opportunity to answer their questions. If they are continually interrupted I will take action.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Transport 2020 is a slush fund—set up by Mr Feeney and Mr Marles, the candidate standing against the member for Corio—whose purpose it is to fund union and ALP memberships for its associates. We know from reports that this fund has been used extensively in the seat of Corio. Mr Feeney was also sacked from the staff of the then opposition leader in Victoria, John Brumby, for his engagement in branch stacking. He was sacked as the ALP state secretary in Victoria in 2002 by Greg Sword, again for his branch-stacking activities. That of course does not stop you being rewarded in the Labor Party. He is now the assistant national secretary and the campaign manager in the South Australian state elections. If there were any leadership from the Leader of the Opposition—and the Labor Party—in this regard, he would demand the resignation of Mr Feeney from these positions.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr Speaker: the question was in respect of Victoria and the minister referred to South Australia.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my right! The member for Perth has the call.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On that basis, Mr Speaker, shouldn’t the minister advise the House of the request of the Liberal Party of South Australia for donations to their campaign by unions.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Perth will resume his seat. The member for Perth will not debate his point of order.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That’s quite a knockout punch—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I have not called the minister.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister does not have the call.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister is in order. I call the minister.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the reality here is either you condone these sleazy secret deals or you oppose them. Last night we had a prominent Labor senator from Victoria running around the gallery complaining that the flow chart which I tabled yesterday could not have been accurate because he did not figure prominently enough in the flow chart!

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will resume his seat. I am going to call the next question.