House debates Questions without Notice
Deputy Prime Minister
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
2:56 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. When the Deputy Prime Minister stood beside the Prime Minister in Toowoomba and boasted about how cheap it was to live in Armidale, had the Deputy Prime Minister advised the Prime Minister, in accordance with the ministerial standards, that he was living in a rent-free home, or was the Prime Minister completely unaware of this?
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:57 pm
I thank the honourable member for his question. I don't know—I don't recall the Deputy Prime Minister advising me of that. However, he did, of course, provide advice in the normal way, and early in—when was it? February? I'm just checking. It was quite recently. I just want to be clear. He filed a member's interest statement. One of the obligations is to do that, under the ministerial standards. He's done that. And he disclosed that he had free accommodation in Armidale.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Member:
An opposition member interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I think you'll find he did.
Opposition members interjecting—
Well, I don't—
Opposition members interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I hesitate to get into a debate here.
Opposition members interjecting—
No. He has—
Opposition members interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Look: in clause 11 of his statement, he states, 'Post—
Barnaby Joyce New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals
12 February.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
12 February, is it? Right. 'Post-election residual of six-month tenancy of Armidale premises.' Prior to that, I was not aware that he had rent-free accommodation in Armidale.