Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition
2:00 pm
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer again to the lack of proper and sensible process in cabinet's consideration of the minister's draconian new media laws. Is it the fact that when cabinet considered the matter on Monday—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Senators:
Government senators interjecting—
John Hogg President
Senator Sinodinos, you are entitled to be heard in silence. I am entitled to hear the—
Government senators interjecting—
Order on my right! Senator Sinodinos is entitled to be heard in silence.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Order! Order! On both sides!
Senator Conroy, the question is being addressed to you.
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition
Is it the fact that, when cabinet considered the matter on Monday, no submission explaining the details of legislation introduced into the House of Representatives today had been circulated prior to the meeting, at least three senior members of the cabinet were not present because their flight from Sydney was late, the usual coordination comments from Treasury and other central agencies had not been circulated, and there was only very limited discussion of this important issue? How can Australians have confidence in a minister and a government that ram important decisions through cabinet with such contempt for their own processes?
Honourable senators interjecting—
John Hogg President
Wait a minute, Senator Conroy. When there is silence on both sides we will proceed.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
2:01 pm
I congratulate Senator Sinodinos on being allowed to ask a question and let out in public. It is great to see you on your feet.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
It is great to see you on your feet.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
It may come as no surprise to those in the chamber that my best advice to you, Senator Sinodinos, is: do not believe everything you read in the Daily Telegraph. Really, I can only say to you: you should not use them as your entire source of information—except perhaps when it comes to their reporting of the ICAC evidence of the investigation of your involvement with Eddie Obeid.
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia
Or about your involvement with Eddie Obeid!
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
No, mine is on the record. Yes, he knew me so well he forgot my name!
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
I am guilty as charged!
John Hogg President
Senator Conroy, ignore the interjection and come to the question. Interjections are disorderly; I remind honourable senators of that.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Thank you. So it really, really is sad when, for those opposite, the entire source of their question time advice is to read the Daily Telegraph and then come in here and ask a question based on it.
Honourable senators interjecting—
That is right, Senator; that is right. But the source of the Daily Telegraph should be an immediate red flag when it comes to drafting a question about cabinet processes. Seriously, Mr President, those opposite should spend their time explaining why they do not want to protect diversity, which is exactly what the cabinet considered and exactly what the cabinet supported—protecting diversity in this country. Those opposite want to see a further contraction in the owners—
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The minister has only three seconds to go. He has almost entirely exhausted his time. He has not addressed the question at all. The question was limited to the question of the proper cabinet process. And no, Senator Conroy—through you, Mr President—it is not enough to use a word quoted in the question in the course of an irrelevant spray to make yourself relevant. I ask you to direct him, albeit with only a few seconds left, to the question.
John Hogg President
There is no point of order. The minister has been addressing the question. The minister has three seconds remaining.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Oh, dear!
Honourable senators interjecting—
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
The arrogance, Senator Brandis! The arrogance! Stand up and say it—
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
So, as I was saying, the cabinet considered this matter— (Time expired)
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition
2:04 pm
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Will the minister confirm reports that Senator Marshall, as the distinguished chair of caucus, was concerned that the usual caucus processes and procedures were bypassed when the minister put his new media laws before caucus? Isn't it the fact that caucus is now so diminished and its members so punch-drunk and resigned to their fate that they have yet again dared not raise their voices to stand up for themselves or the Australian public interest?
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
2:05 pm
The caucus of the ALP considered the matter, and the caucus supported, and the caucus had been calling on me, as you could read regularly in the newspapers, for us to bring this policy forward. So the caucus were very, very supportive of this policy. And you should understand that the processes in the Labor Party are a little different from the processes in yours. They are a little different. We have seen those opposite—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
John Hogg President
No, Senator Conroy has not finished. I have told him to resume his seat because of the noise in the chamber. Senator Sinodinos, you are entitled to listen to the answer and not have the answer drowned out by people on both sides.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
I am pleased to say that it is clear that the senator has drawn on many sources for this question, not just the Daily Telegraph. He has many sources in the newspapers about what goes on in the Labor caucus, and so I am very pleased. But let me assure you— (Time expired)
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition
2:06 pm
Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Did the minister bypass the ordinary cabinet and caucus processes because he was concerned that if his colleagues had sufficient time to get across the detail of these new, draconian proposals they would have revolted?
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
2:07 pm
I vehemently reject the premise of this question. I will repeat what I have just said. If you followed these issues in the papers you would have seen that the caucus regularly was asking for this policy to come forward—regularly. I think we give briefings. Mr Albanese gives a briefing about the caucus afterwards, and Mr Albanese—
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Do you know what Mr Albanese says about you—do you have any idea?
John Hogg President
Order! Senator Conroy, resume your seat. I remind honourable senators that interjections are disorderly.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Mr Albanese gives a briefing and he will have briefed that the caucus has consistently asked for and called on me to bring forward the policy. So when we brought it forward the caucus discussed it and the caucus supported it. Any suggestion from those opposite that it is a draconian policy just demonstrates that they want to see a further concentration in media ownership in this country. Shame on you all! (Time expired)