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

I refer the Prime Minister to her recent statement that investigations into Bruce Wilson's conduct were already underway in August 1995. When the Prime Minister became aware of investigations into AWU Melbourne bank accounts, did she alert the AWU or police to the advice she had given to Mr Wilson in relation to control of the fatal accident or death fund so that it too could be investigated? Why did the Prime Minister not refer to matters regarding this fund in her recent press conferences or answer questions in the House?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have dealt with questions about these matters, about August 1995 and September 1995 and the issues that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition raises. I have dealt with them at press conferences and in this parliament. I think the issue today for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is at what point will she apologise for making an absurd allegation against me yesterday, then denying the making of it and then being forced into a humiliating retreat? At what time will she apologise to the members of the press gallery—

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The whole point is that the Prime Minister has never dealt with the fatal accident or death fund either in press conferences or in the House. I ask that she refer to this fund and the control of it by Mr Wilson.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has the call and will return to the question.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I was saying, when will the Deputy Leader of the Opposition apologise to the press gallery for having misled them yesterday about her degree of contact with Mr Blewitt, and when will the Leader of the Opposition, who is responsible for this campaign of sleaze and a smear, acknowledge it for exactly what it has been? Today we have been treated to the absurdity of the Leader of the Opposition, who has spent days hiding behind his deputy, running away from her. She was instructed not to go to his book launch, his big so-called positive announcement; running away from her—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will return to the question.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The problem with all of this campaign of smear is that the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition got a bucket of mud—they had one waiting from 2007—and they tipped it over the deputy leader. That is their problem, not mine.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has concluded her answer.