House debates Questions without Notice
Liberal Party: Leadership
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
2:25 pm
My question is addressed to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. I refer to today’s reports by Dennis Shanahan and Paul Kelly in the Australian that a meeting occurred in the foreign minister’s Sydney hotel suite which involved the Minister for Justice and Customs, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, the Attorney-General, the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Did the minister attend that meeting and did he express his support for the current Prime Minister at that meeting?
David Hawker Speaker
The question is close to being out of order, but if the minister chooses to answer it I will call the minister.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
The question is out of order; I would agree with that.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
No, I will answer it. I will take the question.
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The minister does not yet have the call. The minister wishes to answer the question. I call the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
I attended that meeting. That is the answer to your question.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
I attended that meeting. The Prime Minister has the support of everybody at that meeting. The discussions at the meeting are not part of my portfolio responsibilities, but I have answered the question. The Prime Minister has the support, as Prime Minister, of everybody in the cabinet. That is the answer.