Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
2:09 pm
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
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
2:10 pm
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
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
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
2:11 pm
Minister Brough has addressed these issues in some detail, and I do not have anything further to add.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
Order on my left! A point of order, Senator Wong?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
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
Minister, have you concluded your answer? The minister has concluded his answer.