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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to his immediate previous answer where he claimed that there's never been the practice of governments to release legal advice. But when there was doubt under section 44 of the Constitution about the qualifications of the member of Leichhardt to be a member of parliament in 1999, Prime Minister Howard tabled this legal advice from the Solicitor-General about the member's qualifications. Why won't the Prime Minister follow the precedent set by Prime Minister Howard and table the Solicitor-General's advice about his Deputy Prime Minister's eligibility to serve?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Members on my right and minister for health.

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

If the honourable member has to go back 18 years to find an exception to the precedent, it rather proves the point I made in my earlier answer.