Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister to the reason he gave at a press conference this week for personally blocking the appointment of Mr Hugh Borrowman as ambassador to Germany. I quote the Prime Minister’s words:

… when it comes to foreign diplomatic appointments I do place priority on languages … and last time I looked at Germany they speak German.

Given that the Foreign Minister had boasted in a media release only a few days earlier of Mr Borrowman’s German language qualifications, will the Prime Minister now give the real reason that he personally vetoed the appointment of this highly respected senior diplomat as Australia’s Ambassador to Germany.

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

One of the delights about the member for Curtin is originality. One of the further delights about the member for Curtin is spontaneity. One thing about the member for Curtin is that you just need to turn to the pages of the Australian today to work out that you are going to get a question from the member for Curtin, because it says so, that she is going to ask a question on this subject today. Can you picture that 40-member tactics committee of the Liberal Party? Monday, Julie goes in: ‘Can I have a question?’ No. Tuesday: ‘Can I have a question?’ No. Wednesday: ‘Can I have a question?’ No. Thursday: ‘It’s in the newspapers—I should be given a question.’

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: this is a serious matter about the Prime Minister personally interfering in the career prospects of a highly respected Australian diplomat. I ask him to answer—

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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. The Prime Minister will respond to the question.

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

One thing almost as enjoyable about one of Julie’s angry looks is it is one of Alex’s angry looks when Alex used to be in the House—and we miss Alex!

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

Order! The Prime Minister will refer to members by their titles.

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

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: if the Prime Minister has had so much time to prepare why doesn’t he answer the question?

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

It is not a point of order. The Prime Minister will refer to members by their titles. The Prime Minister will respond to the question.

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

Referring briefly to the former foreign minister, Mr Downer, the current Leader of the Opposition’s chief of staff would be entirely familiar with how the former foreign minister dealt with ambassadors in Argentina and elsewhere when they happened to cross the paths of the then foreign minister, but I am sure they could answer for that on their own account.

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

The Prime Minister will respond to the question.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: the Prime Minister made a public statement about why he interfered with the diplomat’s appointment. That statement was not true.

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

Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is raising relevance.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that the Prime Minister now give the real reason why be blocked—

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

Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. The Prime Minister will respond to the question.

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

Consistent with practice which I understand was probably the case with Mr Downer and Mr Howard, the foreign minister and I regularly discuss senior diplomatic appointments. The foreign minister and I agree on appointments which go to the question of which skills are best applied to which of our most senior diplomatic appointments abroad. That applied in the case of the posting which is the subject of this question as well. On the question of Mr Hugh Borrowman, he is a first-class diplomatic. The kingdom of Sweden is an important country for Australia. It will soon, as I am advised, assume the presidency of the European Union. We therefore wish him well in that appointment. He will do an excellent job. Furthermore, could I say applying those national interest criteria to appointments was exactly the discussion the foreign minister and I had in relation to the appointment of Mr Tim Fischer as Australia’s first ambassador to the Holy See.

Wilson Tuckey (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table letters from the Attorney-General which include a shell press release in my name which is now obviously, on the Prime Minister’s behaviour, an invitation to entrapment.

Leave not granted.

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

The member for Braddon has the call.

Wilson Tuckey (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

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

Leave is not granted.

Wilson Tuckey (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I will just put it out in the boxes for everybody.