Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:21 pm
My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Does the Prime Minister maintain full confidence is his suspended Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sinodinos, noting that the Assistant Treasurer's suspension is the longest on record? When will the Prime Minister make a decision about Senator Sinodinos's future?
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
I have a funny feeling that the Prime Minister will not take as long to make a decision in relation to Senator Sinodinos as the Labor Party did in relation to Craig Thomson.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
Let me make this point very clear: if I had a choice between Craig Thomson or Senator Sinodinos, it would be Senator Sinodinos every single day, every single hour, every single second! As we know, there are processes—
Honourable senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
Pause the clock. Order! We will not proceed until there is silence. Senator Conroy, Senator Carr, Senator Brandis and Senator Wong—order! We are wasting time. On my right!
John Faulkner NSW, Australian Labor Party
Are you really comparing Craig Thomson to Senator Sinodinos?
Stephen Parry President
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
It took a whole minute or more for Senator Faulkner to think of that interjection. Of course what it shows is the gross hypocrisy of the Leader of the Australia Labor Party, who ran and helped run the defence of Craig Thomson without any concern whatsoever other than the capacity to cling to power. Let us make the point very clear: that the Labor Party cannot come into this place making the sorts of assertions that they have tried to in relation to my very good friend Senator Arthur Sinodinos, a man by whom I am very proud to stand.
Senator Sinodinos, voluntarily stood aside for the purposes of ICAC. I think all of us are disappointed that ICAC in New South Wales is taking longer than might otherwise have been expected. Due process will take its course. But can I simply say that Senator Sinodinos enjoys, more importantly, not only the confidence of myself but also all of his Senate colleagues.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
What about the Prime Minister?
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
And the Prime Minister as well.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:28 pm
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister outline the circumstances in which—
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party
And Don Farrell is standing behind you!
Stephen Conroy Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
You have been dumped three times, Macca—take the hint! You do hold a record!
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
You did the biggest dummy spit in parliamentary history. The biggest dummy spit ever!
Stephen Parry President
Senator Cameron and Senator Conroy, your leader is seeking the call for the question.
Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting —
Senator Macdonald! Order.
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
A big dummy spit!
Stephen Parry President
Senator Cameron! I know this is the last question day of the year, but let us just see if we can get through it without so much disruption.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Can the minister outline the circumstance in which the Prime Minister would contemplate the return of Senator Sinodinos to ministerial duties? Will the finding of corruption by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption result in Senator Sinodinos's dismissal? Or will reckless indifference be enough?
Stephen Parry President
Minister, you can answer the part of that question—
Cory Bernardi SA, Liberal Party
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. It is clearly a hypothetical matter—
Stephen Parry President
Senator Bernardi, I am dealing with that, thank you. Minister, you can answer the part of that question that fits in with your portfolio and is not of a hypothetical nature.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
2:30 pm
It is clearly a hypothetical question. It is clearly in breach of standing orders. But, for the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Australia's worst finance minister ever, I will say that the Prime Minister said in the House of Representatives just a few days ago:
They would be very happy circumstances indeed, wouldn't they, to get Senator Sinodinos back into the ministry? As I have indicated on many previous occasions, it is my hope to have Senator Sinodinos back in the ministry.
And so say all of us.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, I have a final supplementary question. Can the minister confirm the only reason Senator Johnston remains in the ministry is that the Prime Minister cannot reshuffle before ICAC reports on Liberal Party corruption?
Stephen Parry President
Again, Minister, you can answer whatever part of that question you believe fits within your portfolio.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
2:31 pm
I think we all know why Mr Shorten remains Leader of the Opposition. It is because the Labor Party have so tied themselves up with rules that they cannot remove him. Let not the Labor Party come into this place—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
They scoff over there. It is the same scoffing they gave to Kevin Rudd before they knifed him. It is the same scoffing they gave to Julia Gillard before they knifed her. We know what the Labor Party get up to—knifing leader after leader.
I have every confidence that Senator Johnston will remain in the ministry for as long as he wants, and I am very hopeful that Senator Sinodinos will return to the ministry as soon as possible, because both gentlemen are committed to the service of our nation.