House debates Questions without Notice

Deputy Prime Minister

Monday, 4 September 2017 House of Representatives

Tanya Plibersek

Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

2:38 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Since the government became aware that there was doubt over the qualifications of the Deputy Prime Minister to be a member of parliament, how many executive orders, grants, delegations—

Mr Fletcher interjecting—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

Member for Sydney, resume your seat. The Minister for Urban Infrastructure will cease interjecting and is warned. The member for Sydney will start her question again.

Tanya Plibersek

Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Prime Minister. Since the government became aware that there was doubt over the qualifications of the Deputy Prime Minister to be a member of parliament, how many executive orders, grants, delegations, appointments and legislative instruments has the Deputy Prime Minister signed or made?

Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

I can advise the honourable member that the government is absolutely satisfied that the Deputy Prime Minister is qualified to sit in the House. Our legal advice is very clear, and we're very confident that the High Court will confirm that when the matter is heard, so the premise of her question is false.