House debates Questions without Notice
Australian Labor Party
Michael Keenan Stirling, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
3:00 pm
Mr Speaker, my question is again to the Prime Minister. When the Prime Minister says, as he did in relation to my previous question, ‘From my perspective, good news all round,’ does he mean that it is good news to see the back of the CFMEU and he gets to keep their money? Or will he instruct the National Secretary of the Australian Labor Party to send those donations back?
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Mr Speaker, on the first part of the question—
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister
Ms Gillard interjecting
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister
Ms Gillard interjecting
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
This seems to result in considerable animation all round!
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister
Ms Gillard interjecting
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! A number of members on the frontbench on my left and the Deputy Prime Minister are denying the Prime Minister the call.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
I welcome the question which has been presented on this matter. Firstly, in response to the first part of his question: yes, indeed I do the welcome the fact that, as reported, the construction division of the CFMEU has decided to disaffiliate itself from the Australian Labor Party. I do regard that as good news all round, given my historical views of that division of that union, particularly concerning the activities of certain of its leadership over a long period of time.
Secondly, in relation to all details concerning campaign finance, they are properly directed to the—
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
Except tobacco!
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
individual office bearers of the political parties concerned. Thirdly, what I have been presented with is a history of those donations by tobacco companies to the Liberal Party. Mr Speaker, it makes very interesting reading.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for North Sydney on a point of order.
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
Mr Martin Ferguson interjecting
Simon Crean Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade
Mr Crean interjecting
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
Mr Martin Ferguson interjecting
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
No brown paper bags on our side, mate.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order going to relevance.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for North Sydney will resume his seat. The Prime Minister is responding to the question.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
The question did go to the matter of donations. I have indicated how that is dealt with in the normal course of events by the relevant office bearers of political parties. Of course, the honourable member is able to make recourse to the public record of campaign donations to the Australian Labor Party—that is the law in this country. But when it comes to the Liberal Party, can I draw their attention to the fact that—
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The Prime Minister was not asked a general question about donations; he was asked a specific—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for Sturt will resume his seat. I got the point of order; it is a point of order on relevance. He does not have to argue it. The Prime Minister is responding to the question.
Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
Mr Speaker, just a quick perusal of these numbers: about $1 million has been given to the Liberal Party by a combination of British American Tobacco and Philip Morris over the years. They come here pretending to have clean hands on such questions. On the question of campaign disclosure and campaign law reform, I would also draw the attention of those opposite to what legislation has also been rejected by the Senate on the part of those opposite. I think they should reflect carefully on their record on these matters.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing
Mr Speaker, consistent with your advice a couple of days ago, I just wanted to raise with you the issue of the delay taken for you to ask the Prime Minister to resume his seat. It obviously allows him to get his grab out for the nightly news, which is what he is after.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing
I am just questioning why that delay is.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for Dickson will resume his seat! I have had referred to me public comment that the member for Dickson has made on Twitter.
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
Mr Hockey interjecting
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for North Sydney can sit there quietly and he will find out, so then he can twitter that, tweet it or whatever the expression is.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
Harry Jenkins Speaker
It’s tweet all right! I simply say to the member for Dickson that, regrettably, I am not a director of a television show, and until his contribution to Twitter was referred to me, I had not understood the series of points of order that have been made about a phenomenon that I think in the proper conduct of this place as a live piece of theatre assists. Having been alerted, I am conscious now that there are several members who believe that we are conducting this place for the TV grabs and that might include people who approach the dispatch box on points of order. The member for Longman has the call.