Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Could the Prime Minister please inform the House if there were lobbyists or representatives of the gas industry at the Labor Party's budget night fundraiser?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is technically not allowed. I only say that under standing orders and previous practice. Party affairs and matters, particularly of the nature raised, have always been ruled out of questions. Perhaps the member for Ryan would wish to rephrase her question, but she won't be able to ask that sort of question to any minister or the Prime Minister.

Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It goes to the Prime Minister's official duties on budget night and his attendance at meetings with organisations and people seeking to influence government policy. I'm asking on behalf of the Australian people.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't think we want to go down that road, member for Ryan. It is pretty clear that those questions aren't allowed, but, if the Prime Minister wishes to give some comments to the House regarding that topic—I don't want to open this up too wide, but the Prime Minister can address it.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have two points on the topic. The largest ever corporate donation that I'm aware of was to the Greens political party from the operator of a website and an accommodation search, so I make that point. The second point I make is that before I became Prime Minister, under the former government, there were fundraisers in this building, in ministerial offices, in the Prime Minister's office and in the Speaker's office. I, together with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President, after I wrote to them, stopped that, and that is a good thing.