Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:47 pm
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the report that the Attorney-General has joined the Melbourne Savage Club, which declared on its website:
Membership is offered to gentlemen only, based upon the criteria of good fellowship and shared interests.
Will the Attorney sing the club song and demonstrate the club initiation ceremony to the chamber? As the Attorney is responsible for federal anti-discrimination laws, can the Attorney-General explain why his new club does not accept women as members—or is it because he believes sexists have rights too?
Stephen Parry President
Attorney-General, you can answer—
Opposition senators interjecting—
Order!
Government senators interjecting—
Order on my right as well.
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
What goes on behind the scarlet doors, George?
Stephen Parry President
Order, Senator Cameron! Attorney-General, you can answer the part of the question that you feel fits within your portfolio.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
2:49 pm
I think it is a very entertaining question, but I am a little surprised that the shadow minister for defence would choose to pursue a flippant question like that—at any time, frankly, but particularly at the moment. Nevertheless, I will answer him.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Sing the song.
Stephen Parry President
Senator Conroy, order!
Honourable senators interjecting—
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
Mr President, do I have the call? I want to answer the question.
Opposition senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
I am not going to call the Attorney-General until there is quiet and we can hear the answer. Attorney-General, you have more than one minute and 11 seconds left. Attorney-General, you have the call.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
Thank you, Mr President. I assume I am asked this rather flippant question in my capacity as Minister for Arts. I can confirm to the honourable senator that I was recently elected a member of the Melbourne Savage Club, which is a very illustrious organisation operating in Melbourne. I think that, to the best of my recollection, I am a member of three clubs—two of which are mixed and one of which, the Savage Club, has only male members.
There is nothing against the law of Australia for there to be gender-only clubs. There is nothing against the law of Australia for there to be, for example, women-only golf clubs. There is nothing against the law of Australia for there to be men-only clubs and there is nothing against the law of Australia for there to be mixed clubs—nor should there; nor is that sexist.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:52 pm
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Why has the Attorney-General failed to disclose his membership of the Savage Club to the Senate given the potential for conflict of interest with his ministerial responsibilities relating to antidiscrimination legislation?
Stephen Parry President
Attorney-General, again you can answer the part of the question that fits within your portfolio.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Pause the clock.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
I am glad the opposition is having such fun. The answer to the honourable senator's question is: first, club memberships are not a disclosable interest, as he well knows; and, second, there is no respect in which gender-specific clubs are in breach of discrimination law.
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:53 pm
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Which institution is harder for a woman to get into in 2014: the Savage Club or the Abbott cabinet?
Bill Heffernan NSW, Liberal Party
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. Senator Conroy should have declared that he was rejected by the Junee Country Women's Association.
Stephen Parry President
That is not a point of order, Senator Heffernan. Attorney-General, again answer the part of the question that fits within your portfolio.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
2:54 pm
I have nothing to add to my previous answer, but, may I say, after 20 years in this place, Senator Conroy, I think it is about time you grew up.