House debates

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

Questions without Notice

Government Procurement

2:36 pm

Photo of Nick ChampionNick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Science) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield will pause just for a tick. Members on my right, I want to hear the question.

Photo of Nick ChampionNick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Science) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, it was revealed the finance minister received free flights to Singapore from Helloworld just before it was awarded a multimillion-dollar whole-of-government contract by the minister's own department.

Today, it was reported that US ambassador Joe Hockey, who has a million dollar shareholding in Helloworld, helped a Helloworld subsidiary lobby for an embassy travel contract. Is the Prime Minister confident that trips like the ones by the Minister for Home Affairs and Joe Hockey with Helloworld CEO and Liberal Treasurer—

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member's time has concluded. The member for Wakefield will resume his seat.

Mr Husic interjecting

Does the member for Chifley want to leave before he hears the ruling? Unfortunately there was no question there—not on my hearing of it. The member for Moore will resume his seat. Members will cease interjecting. The member for Lilley, on a point of order?

Photo of Wayne SwanWayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I couldn't hear the member when he was asking the question. There was clearly something wrong with the sound. I believe he should be given the chance to ask it again.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I say to the member for Lilley that I regularly have difficulty hearing the questions because of the members in this chamber, but I could hear it clearly. The member for Lilley—

Photo of Wayne SwanWayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

We could not hear it back here. It was not working.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Moore will resume his seat. It's all right; I'm not going to forget him. I'm in a generous mood. The member for Wakefield can repeat his question. I'm just going to point out to him that he did, after the 30 seconds, sort of swim underwater for about another 15. I will let him repeat, in good faith, what he just read to the House. If it's a different question, I will sit him down.

Photo of Nick ChampionNick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Science) Share this | | Hansard source

It's the same one. My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, it was revealed the finance minister received free flights to Singapore from Helloworld just before it was awarded a whole-of-government contract by the minister's own department.

Today, it's been reported that US ambassador Joe Hockey, who has a million-dollar shareholding in Helloworld, helped a Helloworld subsidiary lobby for an embassy contract. Is the Prime Minister confident that trips like the ones that the Minister for Home Affairs and Joe Hockey, and Helloworld— (Time expired)

Government members interjecting

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Members on my right! There was no issue with the microphone there! And, again, there was no question.