Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports the health minister unleashed a torrent of expletives and physically intimidated a 71-year-old grandmother. Why did the Prime Minister and his office ignore this behaviour for over six months, given the high standards expected of ministers under his ministerial standards? Is the PM so arrogant and so out of touch that he chose to ignore this shocking behaviour until it was raised by the media?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

The member for Barker and the member for North Sydney will cease interjecting.

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

I thank the honourable member for her question. My office did not ignore the correspondence from the mayor of Katherine—quite the contrary. The minister has apologised. That was what the mayor of Katherine sought from him, and that apology was appropriate.