House debates

Monday, 16 March 2015

Questions without Notice

Minister for Agriculture

2:34 pm

Photo of Joel FitzgibbonJoel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister and I refer him to undertakings made at Senate estimates by the former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture to provide a number of documents relating to the Minister for Agriculture's doctoring of Hansard. Now that the secretary has been sacked, will the government still commit to providing these documents?

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

The honourable member for Hunter is not permitted to use that term in a question. If he wants to make that sort of allegation, there are other forms of the House. He will reword the question.

Photo of Joel FitzgibbonJoel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | | Hansard source

I remind the Prime Minister that the then Secretary of the Department of Agriculture made undertakings to Senate estimates that he would provide further documents relating to changes to Hansard. Now that the secretary is no longer in the employee of the Commonwealth, will the Prime Minister still commit to providing these documents?

2:35 pm

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

It would be the standard practice of the government to honour undertakings made in Senate estimates.