Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister notified the Governor-General that the member for New England will be the Acting Prime Minister in just over 48 hours? If not, why not?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer is yes. They were notified quite some time ago. There is a standing instrument that makes the Deputy Prime Minister Acting Prime Minister when I am out of the country or, indeed, absent from duties and so forth.