Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister advise, given his answer, what the nature of the discussion was between the office of the Special Minister of State and the Australian Electoral Commission? Did the office of the Special Minister of State request or discuss with the commissioner that a discussion be had with the officer concerned? Were they aware of the discussion which was to come between the commissioner and the officer who is quoted in the press? In addition I ask the minister: when did the Prime Minister seek this advice from Mr Burmester and will that advice be made public, as the advice from Prime Minister and Cabinet ought be made public?