House debates Questions without Notice
Qatar Airways
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:04 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can he confirm that he did not speak to his foreign minister about the horrific incident in Qatar involving Australian women until after Senate estimates today? I further ask when did the Prime Minister or his foreign minister first speak to their counterparts in Qatar to express Australia's outrage about the horrific treatment of these Australian women almost a month ago?
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The assertion put forward by the Leader of the Opposition is incorrect—
Mr Marles interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
Deputy Leader of the Opposition. The Prime Minister has the call.
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The assertion was made in the question about the contact between me and the foreign minister, and the assertion put forward in that question was not correct. The Minister for Foreign Affairs set out the timetable of the contact with the counterparts, including directly by our ambassador, with the consular officials and with the government of Qatar as well as with Qatari Airways.
Honourable members interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The Prime Minister will pause for a second. I again am going to say to members: when these specific questions are asked, I am not going to tolerate interjections. It's a farcical situation where specific questions are asked, I'm trying to listen to the answer and I have people interjecting and preventing me from doing that. The Prime Minister has the call.
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The timetable for those exchanges was set out by the foreign minister today.
Tony Smith Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition wishes to table a document?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
I do. This is the draft transcript from Senate estimates, where Senator Payne indicates that she said no discussions—
Tony Smith Speaker
No, I refer to my earlier ruling. The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. I've made it very clear that, when it comes to tabling documents, there is no point tabling Hansard or even draft Hansard.
Mr Albanese interjecting—
They are available; you've got it in your hand!