House debates Questions without Notice
Home Insulation Program
Greg Hunt Flinders, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage
2:44 pm
My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Did the minister read or receive a briefing on any part of the Minter Ellison report prior to receiving the full report 10 months after the program was announced?
Peter Garrett Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
I thank the honourable member for his question. As I have already indicated to the House, I did not receive or read the Minter Ellison report until this year.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. He was asked a direct question: did he receive any part of the report or read any part of the report prior to receiving the full report?
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The minister is responding to the question.
Peter Garrett Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
In relation to the totality of advice that I received from the department, including advice that would have taken into account issues raised not only in the Minter Ellison report but also in other reports and inquiries, I acted on the basis of that advice and, on the basis of that advice, I put the measures in place which we rolled out in terms of delivering the home insulation program.