House debates Questions without Notice
Tourism Australia: Marketing Campaign
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
2:44 pm
My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment, in his capacity of responsibility for tourism. Is it the case that a restaurant in which the minister has a pecuniary interest has benefited from a taxpayer funded international marketing campaign undertaken by his own agency, Tourism Australia?
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment
2:45 pm
This is typical Labor: when you are losing the political debate you turn to muckracking. Muckraking is all this is. In regards to mud-slinging: if this is the best you can do, the member for Grayndler, you are losing it. This is pathetic and grubby.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment
For 12 months the member for Grayndler has been asserting to anyone who will bother to listen to him—
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
Answer the question!
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment
that we do not have a minister for tourism. Now, today, he is accusing me, via a journalist, of having a conflict of interest as the minister for tourism.
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment
Make up your mind. Are you going to sling mud or are you going to be active in the tourism business?
Opposition members interjecting—
You sit down too. This is grubby. This is very grubby.
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
You are the grub! You should answer the question.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I simply ask that the minister address his comments through the chair.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Resume your seat. Before I ask the minister to resume the call—and I will listen to the Leader of the House in a moment—this is a serious question that is being answered and I expect some respect from the chamber, and from that end as well.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Isaacs is also using unparliamentary language—unparliamentary language which I have been asked to withdraw in the past. I would ask him to withdraw it.
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
I used the same term as the minister and I withdraw, as should the minister.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Minister, it would assist the House if you would withdraw the term used.
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment
Madam Speaker, I said it was a grubby business.
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment
Grubby business is what I said. Is that parliamentary?
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Andrew Robb Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment
As far as the specific issue that was raised, I fully disclosed the extent of my interest and my involvement in the Boathouse cafes when I was given my current responsibilities 12 months ago. That was fully disclosed. As such, the only relevant issue here is whether I have sought to influence in any way or at any time the approach of Tourism Australia towards this business. The answer to that question is an emphatic no.