Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move the following motion:

That the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) shortly before Question Time yesterday, the NSW Police issued a statement confirming that detectives had launched Strike Force Garrad to investigate a fraudulent document used by the Minister for Emissions Reduction;

(b) the statement by the NSW Police said "as investigations are ongoing, no further information is available";

(c) despite that statement and only hours later, the Prime Minister called the NSW Police Commissioner and sought further information, later telling the Parliament they had spoken “about the instigation, the nature and the substance of their inquiries”;

(d) today, Malcolm Turnbull said it would have been much better had the Prime Minister’s phone call to the NSW Police Commissioner not been made because it was important the inquiry “is seen to be conducted entirely free of political influence”; and

(e) when Members of his Government were the subject of a police investigation, John Howards said "I told my colleagues that the Federal Police should be allowed to carry out this investigation without let or hindrance from me or anybody in the federal government"; and

(2) therefore resolves, the Prime Minister acted inappropriately by:

(a) calling the NSW Police Commissioner when all he had in mind was his own political interest and not the national interest; and

(b) thinking none of the usual rules of integrity and accountability apply to him.

Leave not granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Grayndler from moving the following motion immediately—That the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) shortly before Question Time yesterday, the NSW Police issued a statement confirming that detectives had launched Strike Force Garrad to investigate a fraudulent document used by the Minister for Emissions Reduction;

(b) the statement by the NSW Police said "as investigations are ongoing, no further information is available";

(c) despite that statement and only hours later, the Prime Minister called the NSW Police Commissioner and sought further information, later telling the Parliament they had spoken "about the instigation, the nature and the substance of their inquiries";

(d) today, Malcolm Turnbull said it would have been much better had the Prime Minister's phone call to the NSW Police Commissioner not been made because it was important the inquiry "is seen to be conducted entirely free of political influence"; and

(e) when Members of his Government were the subject of a police investigation, John Howards said "I told my colleagues that the Federal Police should be allowed to carry out this investigation without let or hindrance from me or anybody in the federal government"; and

(2) therefore resolves, the Prime Minister acted inappropriately by:

(a) calling the NSW Police Commissioner when all he had in mind was his own political interest and not the national interest; and

(b) thinking none of the usual rules of integrity and accountability apply to him.

The fact is—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Leader of the House.

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

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the Leader of the Opposition be no further heard.

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

Is the motion seconded?

Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Seconded. They've finally drawn attention away from this minister, with the focus now on the Prime Minister.

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

The member for Hindmarsh will resume his seat. The Leader of the House?

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

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

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

The question is that the member for Hindmarsh be no further heard.

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

The question now is that the motion moved be agreed to. I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No standards, no integrity, just a bunch of dumb—

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

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. I call the Leader of the House.

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

I move:

That the question be put.

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

The question is that the question be put.

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

The question now is that the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition be agreed to.