Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to reports that the former minister for trade, Andrew Robb, began working for the Chinese company Landbridge before the last election, a part-time position that earns him $880,000 a year. Has the foreign minister sought advice from the secretary of her department about whether Mr Robb breached the Prime Minister's Statement of ministerial standards, which imposes restrictions on post-ministerial employment? If not, why not?

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

The Leader of the House on a point of order.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

Ms Husar interjecting—

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

The member for Lindsay is warned.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the question—

Honourable members interjecting—

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

I will now hear the Leader of the House. Members will not interject.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the question is not in order, because the person concerned ended being a member of parliament on 9 May 2016, when the writs were issued for the election. How he earnt income after that is not the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Therefore, the question is not within her responsibilities and, as a consequence, she cannot answer. He was not the minister for trade on 1 July 2016. He stopped being a member of parliament on 9 May 2016.

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

I am ready to rule, but in the interests of fairness I will hear from the Manager of Opposition Business. The member for Wills should either take his seat or leave the chamber. I know; I get a sore back too, but I keep thinking you want the call. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

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

On two points, if I may. First of all, in terms of the tenor of question time today, I think it is a bit late for the Leader of the House to get precious on a day like this. On the second point—

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

I say to the Manager of Opposition Business—

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

on the issue of ministerial responsibility—

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

No. I have the call for a second. I say to the Manager of Opposition Business: I know emotions run high, but I am going to rule on whether the question is in order or not—and the standing orders do not vary according to the emotion of the place, I have to say. The Manager of Opposition Business can proceed.

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

The second issue I want to raise goes to the fact that the foreign minister today is in the House as the representative of the minister for trade. The question goes to whether or not advice has been sought from the department's secretary as to whether or not a breach subsequently occurred. The relationship between a minister and the secretary of the department can—

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

The Leader of the House can just resume his seat. He is not going to get the call any earlier by standing up.

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

A question about whether or not a minister has sought advice from the secretary of a department must be in order.

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

I will just ask the Leader of the House to resume his seat for a second, because I have heard both the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business. I listened very closely to the question, and I could see the Leader of the House wanted the call, as did the Manager of Opposition Business. I have a different problem with the question, and that is it relates to the ministerial standards for which the Prime Minister is responsible. That is my difficulty with the question. So, on that basis, I am going to rule it out. But I make it very clear that if that question was directed to the Prime Minister, who is responsible for ministerial standards, that question—

Opposition members interjecting—

No. That is a matter for ministers. I have made that clear. I am not going to take appeals by way of interjections. I am making it very clear. I have heard the Manager of Opposition Business, patiently, and the Leader of the House. That is my ruling on the question. We will go to the next question.