Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Prime Minister. I refer to his answer to my previous question, in which he expressly failed to deny that he or his office leaked details of the conversation with the United States President to the Australian newspaper. I also refer to the Australian Federal Police investigation into the disclosure of confidential files in Kathmandu and also to the Department of Defence investigation into the leaking of a confidential briefing relating to entertainers visiting our troops in Afghanistan. I ask the Prime Minister: what investigation has he instigated into the false and misleading leak of details of a private and confidential telephone conversation with the United States President?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Wentworth for his question. As indicated before to the member for Wentworth, the White House, the United States ambassador and I have confirmed that the President did not make the remarks that have been attributed to him in the article in question. I also ask the member for Wentworth, he having stood at the dispatch box today and welcomed Senator Obama’s election, when he is going to apologise for the attack on Senator Obama—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, this is the second time he has completely failed to answer an important question. It relates to our relations with the United States. He owes us an explanation.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. It would assist if those on my left sat there a little quieter so I could actually hear the Prime Minister.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the member for Wentworth just said, it goes to our relationship with the United States. If he is concerned about the attack on Senator Obama last year, Senator Fifield only last month said about Senator Obama, ‘It is a very serious matter when you have a presidential candidate who thinks it is okay to hang around—

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order—relevance: I would just ask him to answer the question he was asked.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will respond to the question. I will listen carefully. This is an illustration of the problem about answers starting to debate.

Chris Pearce (Aston, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Pearce interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Aston is warned.

Chris Pearce (Aston, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Pearce interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not think it is something you should be thankful for.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the substance of the matter, I refer again to the statement I made before about the public statements by the White House, the US ambassador and me on this. In furthering the question, the member for Wentworth said that this goes to our relationship with the United States. Calling the President-elect of the United States an ‘agent of al-Qaeda’—which is what the Liberals did last year—I think is of some consequence to that relationship.