House debates Questions without Notice
Member for Bennelong
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
3:21 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. It is a very serious question.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The House will come to order. Those on my right!
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
In light of revelations about the alleged impropriety in the office of the member for Bennelong, will the Prime Minister immediately refer the matter to the Auditor-General for an independent investigation?
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
My understanding is that the staffer in question took steps to divest her interests in the Allen Consulting Group prior to commencing as an adviser to the Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Childcare. I also understand that the staffer in question declared an interest in this company in her statement of private interests to the parliamentary secretary, consistent with the ministerial staff code of conduct. The government staffing committee will examine the staff member’s conduct with reference to the provisions of the code. In relation to the—
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
Mr Speaker, on a point of order: the question was a serious one and goes to the same issue as the CMAX investigation by the Australian National Audit Office. Will he refer it to the ANAO along with the CMAX investigation into—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The member will resume his seat. The question was—
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
Mr Pyne interjecting
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Obviously, the member for Sturt is not interested in the ruling.