House debates Questions without Notice

Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Minister for Human Services and Digital Transformation

Tuesday, 19 February 2019 House of Representatives

Brendan O'Connor

Brendan O'Connor Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

3:05 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the Prime Minister told the House that neither Minister Cash nor the human services minister received any further requests for information from the AFP. But yesterday, the AFP told Senate estimates that the ministers were asked twice to provide witness statements and they refused to do so. Who is right, Prime Minister? The Prime Minister or the Australian Federal Police?

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs

3:06 pm

I thank the honourable member for his question. The reality is, as the deputy commissioner, Leanne Close, pointed out yesterday, that there was a request made to the respective ministers. They provided a statement to the AFP and that was it.

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

Members will cease interjecting. The vast majority of members and myself are trying to listen to the answer.