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

My question is addressed to the Minister for Defence. I refer the minister to his failure to answer a very straightforward question from the member for Fadden. I give him the opportunity to answer it now. I ask the minister: how much money has been deducted from the pay packets of SAS soldiers by way of debt recovery since August 2008? Has the minister personally met with any serving members of the SAS who have had their salaries reduced and been hit with debt notices and, if so, when did those meetings take place?

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot give the figure, because Defence cannot give it to me. I can give honourable members of the opposition a figure, though. I referred to an earlier incident when they were in government.

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

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance. You were very generous on relevance when he previously did not answer the question. He should now restrict himself to relevant matters.

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The minister will respond to the question.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On that occasion the amount of money the government of the day was seeking to recover was $9 million. Indeed, that $9 million was booked—

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Robert interjecting

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

The minister will resume his seat. I warn the member for Fadden because on this occasion he is only denying the member for Sturt the call.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on the issue of relevance: the minister was asked a very specific question about meetings that he held and deductions taken from the salaries of SAS soldiers. He is now talking about other matters not to do with the question, which tries the patience of the opposition as you would understand.

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

The minister will relate his material to the question.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will, Mr Speaker. In the 2004-05 financial statements, that $9 million was booked as revenue.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The minister will resume his seat.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hear, hear!

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

You should really contain your excitement, member for North Sydney. I have great difficulty in judging the relevance of a response that I cannot hear, so I think that those on my left should sit in silence so I can listen to the response of the Minister for Defence. The Minister for Defence will relate his material to the answer.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was $9 million booked as revenue, a decision which was reversed in the 2005-06 statements.