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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to this 1996 interview of the WA major fraud squad with the auditor of the AWU in Western Australia, who stated he had no knowledge of the existence of the AWU Workplace Reform Association, never saw any documents to indicate it existed or any financial records. Given that Bruce Wilson revealed last night the Prime Minister gave much broader advice than previously admitted on legal requirements to establish the association and its rules, why hasn't the Prime Minister revealed the true extent of her involvement in the setting up of this association?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on a point of order. We have gone wide, we have gone wider and now we are off the map. That question is completely out of order.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on the point of order. The question is clearly in order because it relates to the statements the Prime Minister has made before, revealing her involvement in the establishment of the association—statements that she has made in this House this week, statements that she has made in press conferences as Prime Minister. Therefore the question is: since Bruce Wilson has revealed that the Prime Minister had a greater involvement than the Prime Minister has admitted, why didn't she reveal it in this place, in this House or in press conferences?

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

In answer to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition's question, I have dealt with these matters fully. I have dealt fully with my role in providing legal advice on the incorporation of this association. I have provided detailed answers on this. They were provided in press conferences; they have been provided in this parliament. What this desperate tactic shows is that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is actually out of questions on this matter, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is out of credibility on this matter and the Leader of the Opposition's strategy of negativity and sleaze and smear is running out of puff as well.