Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. Can the minister confirm that so far he's told the House he was representing an unknown number of unnamed farmers inside and outside his electorate, someone who wrote a letter to someone else three years before the meeting, someone else who wrote a letter to another someone else six months after the meeting, and the mysterious bloke from Yass? Why won't the minister admit to the House what he told local radio: that he's actually been representing himself the entire time?

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker—

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

The minister for energy will resume his seat for a second. So will the Manager of Opposition Business. I'm not sure the question asked the minister to refer to his previous answers. I'd just like you to read the opening sentence again.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opening sentence is: 'Can the minister confirm that so far he has told the House he was representing—'

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

That's fine. The Leader of the House?

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the difficulty with that is that it then completely misrepresents previous answers that have been given by the minister.

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

I say to the Leader of the House that whilst I appreciate the point he's been making, Speaker Andrews and other Speakers have made the point that when these claims are made it's a balancing act between whether you let them stand or let the minister actually deal with them in the way that they want to, so that's the approach I'm going to take. I just wanted to check that it did refer to previous answers, and I'm satisfied with that.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was representing farmers in my electorate. At a time of drought, like this, those opposite should show some respect for those representing farmers in their electorate. What I find most interesting is—

Opposition members interjecting —

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

The minister will just pause for a second. I am just going to say to those interjecting loudly to my left: if you don't lower the volume, I'll do it through ejections. I'm putting you all on notice.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I find most interesting is those opposite come into this place, lecturing us about good governance whilst the stench of corruption emanates from Sussex Street. What complete hypocrisy!