House debates Questions without Notice
Enterprise Migration Agreements
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
2:12 pm
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. When did the minister first inform the Prime Minister or her office that a decision with respect to the enterprise migration agreement for the Roy Hill project was imminent?
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
2:13 pm
There was, of course, substantial consultation between my office and other ministerial offices and a detailed brief was provided to the Prime Minister's office early in the week of 21 May.
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Madam Deputy Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Given the answer the minister has just given, are reports correct that he did not inform the Prime Minister or her office that this deal had been struck until she had returned from Chicago last Wednesday?
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
I refer to the answer I provided a few moments ago. The arrangement with Roy Hill was not struck until later that week. The detailed brief was provided to the Prime Minister's office early in the week of 21 May.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
I am watching the member for Mayo, for future reference.