Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | 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) Share this | 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.