House debates Questions without Notice
Minister for Agriculture
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:39 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports that the Prime Minister's own department contacted Dr Grimes a number of times about his request to convene an extraordinary Senate committee hearing to reveal the circumstances and truth about changes to the Minister for Agriculture's Hansard record. Did the Prime Minister personally instruct his department to communicate with Dr Grimes or anyone in his office?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:40 pm
This matter was handled entirely by the secretary of my department, as it should be.
Warren Snowdon Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for External Territories
Just answer the question.
