Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Last month, the Audit Office gave evidence to the parliament that his office was involved in a canvassing process to select commuter car park projects to fund based on an initial list of 20 marginal Liberal-held seats. When will the Prime Minister actually explain his role in the process instead of having other ministers defend it for him?

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

In relation to the question just put by the members opposite previously, I directly addressed the issues that were being put before the House regarding the role that the Prime Minister plays in finalising an Expenditure Review Committee process, and that is exactly the role that I played. That is not an unusual process. It is a process followed by previous prime ministers—previous Labor prime ministers and previous Liberal prime ministers. That is the way that you finalise a budget round when you go through an Expenditure Review Committee process.

Now, those opposite might be unfamiliar with that process. I'm not unfamiliar with it; I'm very familiar with the process of the economic management of this country because it has been under this government, when we went into this pandemic, that we had been in a position where we were able to balance the budget so that we could deliver the single greatest economic response the country has ever required. And Australia was—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Scullin on a point of order?

Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker, it's on relevance. This is a very interesting dissertation by the Prime Minister, but the question—

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

The member for Scullin will make his point of order.

Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

was a very narrow question about the process followed in this instance and the role of his office. He should come to those questions to be relevant to the question.

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

The Prime Minister does need to be relevant to the question. He has been up until now, but it's not an opportunity to speak about the economy or the budget generally.

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

I can confirm that the matters were dealt with in accordance with the budget process and the authorities provided to ministers.