Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the Prime Minister sought to use a confidential complaint about alleged workplace misconduct inside a media organisation to dismiss questions. Is it any wonder victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment in this building and around Australia are afraid of coming forward when the Prime Minister of this country uses a confidential complaint in a nationally televised media conference as a way to try and stop journalists asking questions about these important issues?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not what I was doing today. I was simply making the broader point about the matters that we are dealing with in this place. All members of this place have a responsibility for getting this House in order when it comes to these issues. These issues are not confined to any one side of politics, as we have read in the reports over this past month. These things being reported are disgusting and shameful, and they have no place in this House. I was simply making the point that the problems we are experiencing in this country are not confined simply to the offices of members, senators and ministers in this place; they go well beyond that. The way I referred to these matters today was in an anonymised way.

Mr Conroy interjecting—

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

The member for Shortland!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The broader point is the one I sought to highlight today—the broader problem of women having to put up with this rubbish for so long. It has to stop, and it will take all of us to stop it.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Members on both sides! The member for Eden-Monaro, the member for Cowan and many others—I have mentioned the member for Shortland. I will simply make use of standing order 94(a) if interjectors continue in the fashion they have been.