House debates

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Questions without Notice

Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct

3:06 pm

Photo of Ms Catherine KingMs Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that a censure motion is being debated in the Senate against the Assistant Minister for Health for breaching the ministerial standards, for failing to produce documents and for misleading the parliament? When will the Prime Minister act and sack this minister?

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Before I call the Prime Minister, I would say to the member for Ballarat that this House is not responsible for the business in another place. The Prime Minister has the call.

3:07 pm

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

I can inform the shadow minister opposite that ministers who behave inappropriately will be punished. But no-one has done anything wrong in the case that this shadow minister is so preoccupied with. Not a single person has done anything wrong in this case—no-one; nothing. No-one has done anything wrong. Nothing wrong has been done.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will remove himself under 94(a).

The member for Isaacs then left the chamber—

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Not only is there no fire; there is not even any smoke. Frankly, Labor should find a different tree to bark up.