Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. When did the Prime Minister first become aware that the foreign investment conditions he imposed on Alinta Energy as Treasurer, which were meant to protect the privacy of over one million Australians, were not being enforced?

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Rankin. As he would be aware, it is the practice of treasurers and Treasury not to comment on specific foreign investment matters, particularly when they involve compliance issues, and Treasury has put out a statement to that effect. What we do know is that this side of the House supports foreign investment and free trade. On this side of the House, we're very proud of the fact that, when we came to government, free trade agreement covered about 26 per cent of our two-way trading relationship and now it's more than 70 per cent, and that one in five Australian jobs are related to trade.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

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

We've now had a preamble from the Treasurer with respect to general views on foreign investment. The question goes specifically to conditions that were imposed on Alinta not being enforced, and that's the only issue that the question goes to: when did the Prime Minister first become aware of that?

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

There are two points here. I noticed members looking at me, because the question was addressed to the Prime Minister. I could take them again through the Practice, which makes very clear that the Prime Minister can ask a minister—any minister—to answer a question directed to him, and that's outlined there. I expect that the Manager of Opposition Business wasn't one of those seeking to make that point.

I did listen very carefully to the Treasurer. I think he's talking more generally, but he was actually quite specific in terms of his answer. His answer wasn't a date, but his answer was really saying that it's not practice to divulge such things. On the point of order?

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

To the point of order: if his position is that he refuses to answer, that doesn't change the fact that what follows is no longer relevant to the question.

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

I'll listen to the Treasurer carefully. The Treasurer needs to be relevant.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was asked about foreign investment, and I stated the fact that we strongly support—

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

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

No, the Treasurer will pause. The member for Rankin will cease interjecting. I've just ruled on the point of order that's been made by his colleague. He's not going to bellow the question again and again and again. The Treasurer has the call.

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the specific issue and the specific matter that was raised by the member opposite, this is what the Treasury statement said: 'It is not the practice of Treasury to comment on matters which may involve a foreign investor applicant or compliance matters. This is due to protected information privacy provisions contained in the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act which recognise that information provided to Treasury can be commercially sensitive.' I think that makes it very clear.