House debates Questions without Notice
Government Procurement
Jim Chalmers Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State (House)
2:39 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the answer just given by the Leader of the House. Is the Prime Minister aware that, when asked if she believed Mr Hockey's behaviour reflects the high standards expected of someone in that position, the secretary of DFAT replied, in part: 'There are a whole range of things that you've raised today that I think we need to think about, and we need to provide answers to you. I'm not in a position right now to say that, in all respects, those actions have met the standard.' If the Secretary of DFAT can't say that Mr Hockey has acted appropriately, how can the Prime Minister?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
Members on my left! The Leader of the House has the call.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
My mere presence gets them very excited, Mr Speaker!
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
It surprises me too!
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
The Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs has said that the actions that Mr Hockey has undertaken in declaring his conflict of interest are entirely appropriate. It has also been confirmed that the shareholding of Mr Hockey in Helloworld was declared entirely in keep with the DFAT guidelines.