Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the trade minister and refers to a record of conversation between his department and AWB executives. The government tells the AWB ‘to stay in touch with Minister Vaile’s office for advice on the government’s public lines’—that is, on the impending release of the Volcker inquiry report. Why was the minister still colluding with AWB on the eve of the release of the UN Volcker report when, by then, the government had received a June 2003 cable from Baghdad stating that every oil for food contract had a 10 per cent kickback, a September 2003 US defence report stating that AWB contracts had been upped by 11 per cent, an October 2003 report by Australian Treasury officials virtually to the same effect and a May 2004 briefing from an ADF officer in Iraq who said that the jig was up on the AWB and that the AWB was up to its eyeballs in corruption?

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

Order! The member for Griffith will come to his question.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, what political spin doctoring advice did you provide to the AWB on the eve of the release of this report to try to get you and your National Party mates out of the mess?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. Aside from the question of length—which the practice of the House says is not in order—the member opposite said that the minister had been colluding. This is a serious allegation and can be dealt with only by substantive motion, and not at question time. I ask the member to withdraw those words.

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the same point of order, Mr Speaker, I cannot see where length is referred to in the standing orders. Certainly it is in House of Representatives Practice.

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

We are not debating points of order. I asked the member to come to his question. I believe he came to his question. I was listening carefully. I do not believe he made a personal reflection. I call the Deputy Prime Minister.

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Griffith for his lengthy question. There was no spin doctoring involved. The only advice that was given was to cooperate fully with the Volcker inquiry.