Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. When my electorate was burning, the Prime Minister's office told journalists he was not on holiday in Hawaii. Why did the Prime Minister's office say that when it wasn't true?

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

I've got some difficulty with the question, because it doesn't relate directly to the Prime Minister. You're asking about his office.

Honourable members interjecting—

I'm happy to hear a point of order on it. I said I had some difficulty with it. It didn't, to be blunt, seem to link the accusation to the Prime Minister himself.

Honourable members interjecting—

Whoever was interjecting up there, please cease. It's never the member for Makin, so thank you. The Manager of Opposition Business.

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

Mr Speaker, we've had many questions over the years about the actions of the Prime Minister's office or where a series of ministers have been asked about actions of their offices. This is a question where their office took an action in answering something about the Prime Minister himself.

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

I just make the point that that's certainly the case, but my recollection is that more often than not they've specifically then asked the Prime Minister about action he's taken himself. But I will allow the question. We'll see how we go.

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

I can only speak to what I have said, as the Leader of the Opposition will know, because I texted him from the plane when I was going on that leave and told him where I was going, and he was fully aware of where I was travelling with my family.