Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In question time today we had a situation where the Minister for Health provided information that had been specifically asked for from the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister had twice refused to provide the parliament with those facts. I simply ask you whether there is any recourse that the House has available to it when we have a clear answer from the executive to a question asked twice that has been refused to be answered under the Westminster code that this place is meant to operate under.

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

I simply refer the Manager of Opposition Business to the practice with respect to questions and answers. How ministers answer questions is entirely a matter for them; it's not for me to make a judgement on it.