Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Last week it was revealed after a year-long investigation that former Liberal candidate Mr Di Sanh Duong was charged with preparing a foreign interference offence, the first charge laid under the foreign interference laws. Minister Tudge appeared with Mr Duong at a media event at the Melbourne hospital in June. How is it that Minister Tudge, part of the Home Affairs portfolio, was not advised against the appearance despite it being approximately eight months into the investigation by the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce led by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the AFP?