George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to the fact that the Prime Minister has not visited Queensland in more than four months, notwithstanding the occurrence of severe natural disasters including major flooding in south-west Queensland and the small matter of an upcoming state election. Can the minister confirm when the Prime Minister next plans to visit Queensland? Will she be attending the Labor Party state campaign launch in coming days, or has she been asked by the Premier, Ms Bligh, to stay away for the damage that her presence may do to Labor's already toxic reputation?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am informed by Senator McLucas that the Prime Minister was in St George with Barnaby Joyce about a week and a half ago.

Senator Brandis interjecting—

That's not correct? Is that right? I will correct the record if that is not correct, but I am advised by Senator McLucas and I seem to remember seeing a photo in the paper—

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Senator Joyce avoided her!

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz, you are confirming, are you, that she was there?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Comments to the chair, please.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All I can say is that it is clearly a stupid question. I am advised that the Prime Minister was in the company of Senator Barnaby Joyce, the Nationals leader, within the last couple of weeks discussing the flood situation at a meeting in St George. I certainly remember seeing some coverage of that. If I am wrong, I will correct the record. But it seems to me, Senator Brandis, that your question is misplaced and perhaps you ought to take the opportunity to ask Senator Joyce whether or not that is correct. And if you have misled the Senate in your question, obviously you will be correcting the record as well.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer the minister to comments made by the Labor Premier of Queensland, Ms Bligh, who said on Monday that 'as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered to this state'. Apart from the government's mining tax, which will cost thousands of Queensland jobs, and the government's carbon tax, which would drive up the cost of living of every Queensland family, what has Ms Gillard delivered to Queensland?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The first thing I want to do in responding is to inform Senator Brandis that in fact I understand it was on 11 February that the Prime Minister was in Queensland with Senator Joyce, so I do expect him to apologise to the chamber if he is wrong.

Bill Heffernan (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order. Given some slights made today such as where is Barnaby Joyce, Barnaby Joyce today is at Fiona Nash's mother's funeral.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a big Brandis blunder.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Cameron!

Honourable senators interjecting—

When there is silence on both sides we will proceed.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Courier Mail reports:

The federal government has forwarded the latest instalment of its $5.6 billion funding package to Queensland, as flood recovery efforts continue …

Speaking in the Queensland town of St George, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the government had been making sure that money was continuously available to flood-hit areas of Queensland.

That was a report of 11 February. So the slur contained in the primary question, it seems, is wrong, and I remind those opposite that they refused to support the funding package designed to give relief to Queensland residents following the floods last year. That is how concerned they were.

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On both sides.

Government senators interjecting—

Order! On my right. Senator Brandis.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I also refer the minister to comments made by Premier Bligh that 'Kevin Rudd is a friend of mine'. Is the Prime Minister also a friend of Ms Bligh? Is she doing her friend a favour by staying away from the Queensland Labor campaign launch, or does she plan to do her friend a favour by keeping her profile at the Labor campaign launch as low as possible and leaving as quickly as possible?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Liberal opposition had the option today of asking an accurate question focused on the concerns of those affected by the floods, or they had the option of trying to smear the Prime Minister and take no interest in those people who have been affected by the floods. They chose the second path. It is embarrassing to see the lack of interest in the people of Queensland, the lack of interest in the impact of the floods on those people and the attempt to try and slur the Prime Minister inaccurately, when she was in Queensland with Senator Barnaby Joyce focused on the needs of those people. I would remind those opposite that when it came to helping the Queensland people, when it came to passing the levy to support investment in Queensland to rebuild, they opposed it. That is how interested they were. Their answer was, 'Add it to the $70 billion black hole we have already got.' We refuse that. We are interested in the people of Queensland. (Time expired)