Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister give me one simple guarantee that no taxpayer funded opinion poll research has been made available to any of the organisers of the BCA-ACCI campaign, including—

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Standing orders preclude a member asking a question which has already been fully answered. That question has been asked—

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

I am listening carefully to the member for Fraser. I will hear out his question and then respond to the point raised by the member for Mackellar. The member for Fraser will come to his question.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I am entitled to speak to the point of order. My point is that I am asking a question to which I have not had an answer. That is why I am asking it again.

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

The member for Fraser will come to his question.

Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the Prime Minister today give me one simple guarantee that no taxpayer funded opinion poll research has been made available to any of the organisers of the BCA-ACCI campaign, including Mark Textor, Tony Barry, Peter Anderson, Brett Hogan or Lynton Crosby?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In answer to the question asked by the member for Fraser, I have not authorised it. I am not aware—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members will come to order!

Dick Adams (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Adams interjecting

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

The member for Lyons is warned! The Prime Minister will be heard.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will start again. I have not authorised it; I am not aware of anybody else having done so; I have not authorised anybody else to do so. I shall make inquiries of my colleagues to be completely satisfied and, when I am, I will make a statement. But I repeat: I have not authorised it, I would not have authorised it, it would not be appropriate and I am not aware of anybody else having done it. But I will need to make inquiries to be completely satisfied—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Gillard interjecting

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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned!

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that I have given a completely truthful answer to the House.