Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
3:12 pm
Madam Deputy Speaker, during the course of question time we witnessed the Acting Prime Minister read from a document. We asked expressly for the document to be tabled. You asked the Acting Prime Minister whether he was reading from a document. He said he was not. Here is a photo of him actually reading from the document. It is a serious issue when the Acting Prime Minister stands up and denies a fact at his own hand. I would ask that the matter be considered by you, that you look at the tapes—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
Joe Hockey North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer
Madam Deputy Speaker, I ask that you consider the matter, that you look at the tapes to consider whether the Acting Prime Minister was reading from a document and report back to the House. If it is the case that the Acting Prime Minister was reading from a document and subsequently denied it, I ask that the matter be referred to the Standing Committee of Privileges and Members' Interests immediately.
Mr Matheson interjecting—
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (15:13): I thank the member for North Sydney. I will refer the matter to the Speaker for his consideration. For the record for the House, the Deputy Prime Minister is no longer acting, as the Prime Minister is back in her position. That is why I have been referring to him by his title of Deputy Prime Minister.
The member for Hughes made an interjection during that time and I will ask him to withdraw. Sorry, I have done you a massive disservice—I am looking at the wrong person. The member for Macarthur will withdraw. He made a very loud reference that is unparliamentary. He will withdraw. My humble apologies to the member for Hughes.
