Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to concerns raised by Senator Heffernan, the Prime Minister's representative on the Liberal Party's nomination review committee, about the activities of former Assistant Treasurer Senator Sinodinos and Australian Water Holdings. Did Senator Heffernan ever raise his concerns with the Prime Minister before Senator Sinodinos was appointed to the Abbott ministry?

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

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. I refer you to page 554 of House of Representatives Practice

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There will be silence on my left.

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

Madam Speaker, I refer you to page 554 of House of Representatives Practice, which states:

A Minister can only be questioned on matters for which he or she is responsible or officially connected.

The first dot-point to indicate questions or parts of questions that have been ruled out of order reads:

Madam Speaker, I would put to you that the question that was put to the Prime Minister is not within his area of responsibility, and former Speakers have ruled out of order questions to do with internal party matters. Therefore, I believe the question—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on the point of order, it would be extraordinary to rule that the Prime Minister is not responsible for who he appoints to his ministry.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question as it was put, in the words that the Leader of the Opposition used, related to a party-political appointment, not to a ministerial appointment.

Mr Burke interjecting—

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. If the Leader of the Opposition wishes to rephrase his question so as not to offend the standing orders, he may do so.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think we all know what the issue is that I am asking about: did Senator Heffernan ever raise his concerns with the Prime Minister before Senator Sinodinos was appointed to the Abbott ministry?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The important issue here is the maintenance of high standards in public life. I have to say that, by stepping aside from his ministry while this matter is being investigated, Senator Sinodinos upheld the very best of the Westminster—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. It is not good enough, under standing order 104, for the Prime Minister, when anything is asked about Arthur Sinodinos, to give the same answer.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is argument now. As you well know, answers are not governed by the same rules as questions, and the Prime Minister is answering the question as it has been asked. He is a minute into the answer—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I expect he is in the final moments of the answer, if it is like last week.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the Hon. Prime Minister.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As for the matters raised by the Leader of the Opposition, I just do not comment on scuttlebutt.