Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, Senator Cormann. I refer to Mr Brough's statement on 60 Minutes in 2014 when asked, 'Did you ask James Ashby to procure copies of Peter Slipper's diary for you?' He confessed, 'Yes, I did.' When asked the same question in parliament yesterday, Mr Brough recanted and said, 'No.' When was the minister telling the truth—on television or in parliament?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Collins for that question. Minister Brough has provided extensive answers to many questions in the House of Representatives on this for some time, and I do not have anything else to add.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. How can a minister who has misled parliament and is subject to a criminal investigation by the Australian Federal Police remain responsible for the integrity of parliamentary entitlements and our electoral system?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not accept the premise of the question. There are processes currently underway that should be allowed to take their course.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Did the Special Minister of State tell the Prime Minister or the Minister for Finance he proposed to change his story on the James Ashby affair? Does the Minister for Finance maintain confidence in his junior minister?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Brough has addressed these issues in some detail, and I do not have anything further to add.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! A point of order, Senator Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my point of order is on direct relevance. The minister was not asked about what the Special Minister of State has said previously. In this question he was asked whether or not the Prime Minister or he were told that Mr Brough proposed to change his story. The Minister for Finance was also asked whether he maintained confidence in his junior minister. He has answered neither of those questions.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, have you concluded your answer? The minister has concluded his answer.