Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. In relation to the Attorney-General's appointment of Mr Tavoularis to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, we now know that the Attorney-General has known Mr Tavoularis for many years. Mr Tavoularis previously acted for the Attorney-General's son in criminal proceedings. Mr Tavoularis has made a donation to the Liberal Party of Queensland, and the Attorney-General personally approached Mr Tavoularis for appointment to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Does the Attorney-General stand by his statement, 'There is no conflict of interest whatsoever'?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a supplementary question. I refer to media reports that indicate that Mr Tavoularis acted for the Attorney-General's son, who was being prosecuted for wilful damage to property. Did the Attorney-General have any role in arranging for Mr Tavoularis to represent his son, and was Mr Tavoularis paid full commercial rates for the legal work?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) | Link to this | Hansard source

I will not dignify that disgusting question with an answer.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! And order on my right—how can I deal with interjections when I cannot hear them because of the interjections close to me? Senator Wong, do you have a point of order?

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

Yes, I do. They should withdraw calling Senator Cameron a grub. It was done repeatedly. Mr President, in question time you do have to protect senators to some extent.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! If any senator used those words I would expect that senator to withdraw. I did not personally hear them.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw that you are a grub.

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

Senator O'Sullivan, could I ask you to withdraw, and do not repeat the phrase.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

If 'grub' is unparliamentary, I did use that against Senator Cameron, and I withdraw.

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

Order! I remind senators that it is not so much the word that is used; it is also the context in which it is used.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Senator McGrath.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw the use of 'grub'.

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

Thank you, Senator McGrath. Senator Nash.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) | Link to this | Hansard source

I also withdraw the use of 'grub'.

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

Thank you. Senator Scullion.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr President.

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

Thank you. Senator Williams.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr President.

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

Senator Hume.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw too, Mr President.

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

Thank you, Senator Hume. Senator Cameron, a final supplementary question.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order on both sides!

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

What a disgusting excuse for a human being!

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I think that might be a record number of withdrawals.

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

To the question, Senator Cameron.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

Of those the Attorney-General has appointed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, how many has he known for 'many years' and how many have made donations to the Liberal National Party of Queensland?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron, there are many people who I approach to be judges or members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal whom I know personally. There are many because, frankly, there are very few prominent members of the legal profession—certainly, in my own home city of Brisbane—whom I do not know personally. It is hardly a disqualification for a person who is a suitable candidate for judicial office that they happen to know the Attorney-General of the day.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order.

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

Attorney-General, have you concluded your answer?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Do you still wish to raise a point of order, Senator Cameron?

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

It was on relevance. There were two aspects to the question. One was that the Attorney-General address the issue of many years' knowledge—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

but he did not go to the issue of donations to the Liberal Party.

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

Senator Cameron, there is no point of order. The Attorney-General did address the question and he had concluded. Senator Bilyk, did you have a point of order?

Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I overheard Senator Macdonald calling Senator Cameron 'a disgusting excuse for a human being', and it is the second time I have heard in the past few minutes. I would like him to withdraw.

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

Senator Macdonald, if you did make an unparliamentary comment, I would appreciate it if you would withdraw.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I certainly did use those words, Mr President, and I stand by them. But if you say they are unparliamentary, I will withdraw.

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

Thank you, Senator Macdonald. Senator O'Sullivan.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I used them too, and I will withdraw.

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

Thank you, Senator O'Sullivan.