House debates Questions without Notice
Liberal Party
Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations
2:41 pm
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Mackellar, Liberal Party
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
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
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.
Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations
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
In answer to the question asked by the member for Fraser, I have not authorised it. I am not aware—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Lyons is warned! The Prime Minister will be heard.
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
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
Ms Gillard interjecting
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
that I have given a completely truthful answer to the House.