Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Special Minister of State. I refer to his previous answers about the Federal Court decisions. How can the minister claim that the Federal Court exonerated him when the full Federal Court found on 9 February 2015 about the Ashby proceeding:

There had not then been a trial of all issues. The relevant evidence had not been given, and the reliability of the witnesses had not been exposed to testing by cross-examination. In the event … that will not occur because Ashby has discontinued his proceeding.

Minister, when you claim to be exonerated, aren't you misleading the House yet again?

Mal Brough (Fisher, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a desperate opposition. This Leader of the Opposition leads a pack who are now referring to a civil matter that I have no involvement in.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mal Brough (Fisher, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You show your ignorance. This is the document relating to the appeal between Ashby and Slipper.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler!

Mal Brough (Fisher, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The honourable member just referred to 2015. I just told you—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will cease interjecting.

Mal Brough (Fisher, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You people are so ignorant of the facts, and that is why you say what you do. This is the 27 February 2014 judgement. I will quote it again for the benefit of the House:

There is no evidence that Brough offered to assist either Ashby or Doane to find new careers. That Brough was prepared to consider allegations of misuse of travel entitlements in relation to Slipper and to look at evidence produced by Ashby which might support these allegations does not necessarily mean that his purpose was to harm Slipper politically.

I can go on:

Brough referred Ashby to Russell QC to give informal advice to Ashby. Russell QC’s advice was temperate and cautious. The recital of his evidence includes that he made it clear that the LNP would not help Ashby, or give him or Doane any assurances of later employment.

It goes on and on. No matter how much the member for Isaacs tries to paint a picture that does not exist—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about the Federal Court?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler is warned.

Mal Brough (Fisher, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Federal Court found in full in regard to this matter, with a full bench. I know that pains the member for Grayndler, and I am sorry for him. In relation to the matters before the AFP, surely as a QC the member for Isaacs has enough decency to respect the processes. What is it that you are so afraid of?

Ms Owens interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Parramatta is warned!.

Mal Brough (Fisher, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You wish to prosecute this case for political purposes—you are not interested in the substantive processes of our country and respecting them.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table paragraph 46 of the decision of the full Federal Court—the same judges in Ashby and Slipper No. 3, 9 February 2015, that made the earlier decision.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs has made his point. Is leave granted?

Leave not granted.