Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party
2:37 pm
Mr President, I join with other senators in congratulating you on your appointment. My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. On 25 October, the minister told the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee that, in a question time briefing with the Prime Minister, she 'advised him'—the Prime Minister—'that what Anthony Albanese had said was not true'. Given that Mr Albanese said:
We know that Senator Cash's office was ringing around media organisations yesterday afternoon, telling them that this was going to occur.
can the minister confirm that what Mr Albanese said was, in fact, true?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women
Senator Watt himself would also be aware that these matters have been canvassed in detail extensively at Senate estimates.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Scott Ryan President, Special Minister of State
Order on my left! One of your colleagues is on his feet. Order! Senator Watt won't be called till I can hear him.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party
2:38 pm
As the minister well knows, the questions we're asking are the ones that she's refused to answer up until now. The Prime Minister has said that you assured him that you were not responsible for tipping off the media about the raids. At any stage, did you assure the Prime Minister that your office was not responsible for tipping off the media about the raids of AWU offices? If not, why not?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women
Again, Senator Watt would be aware that this question was canvassed in estimates in detail on several occasions. But I would also say that I will not stand here and be lectured by a senator who goes to a CFMEU picket line and stands in solidarity with union thugs who say they are going to rape the children of workers trying to get to work.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Scott Ryan President, Special Minister of State
Order! Order on my right and left! Senator Watt, a final supplementary question.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party
2:39 pm
I note the minister continues to refuse to answer the questions that she refused to answer at estimates. Given the minister was accompanied to the meeting by her senior media adviser, who has now resigned, did the minister's senior media adviser seek to correct the mistruth that she told to the Prime Minister at that briefing?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women
2:40 pm
Again I would advise Senator Watt to read the Senate estimates Hansard. These matters were canvassed in detail at Senate estimates, but again I will say for the Hansard record—
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party
On a point of order, Mr President: the minister's claims to have answered these questions in the estimates are completely incorrect. She has failed to answer these questions, which is why we are putting them to her now.
Scott Ryan President, Special Minister of State
Senator Watt, that is not a point of order. There is an opportunity after question time to debate the answers given by ministers.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women
As I was saying, I will not stand here and be lectured by a senator who goes to CFMEU picket lines and stands in solidarity with thugs who are screaming at workers—
Scott Ryan President, Special Minister of State
Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
I know she misleads, but now she's not even trying to answer the question. My point of order is direct relevance. Did the minister's senior adviser seek to correct the mistruth told to the Prime Minister by the minister? That's the question. She should answer it.
Scott Ryan President, Special Minister of State
The minister has a minute to answer the question. The minister has addressed part of the question in the 21 seconds she's had to answer it. I will remind the minister of the question.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women
I completely reject the premise of the question, Mr President. But, as I said, I will not stand here and be lectured by a senator who stands in solidarity with union thugs who threaten to rape people's children.
Scott Ryan President, Special Minister of State
Senator Cash, I just want to clarify: have you completed your answer? Senator Cash has.
Derryn Hinch Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party
On a point of order, Mr President: it was bad enough under your predecessor. You are being tested more than he was, and it is impossible back here to hear a minister speaking from down the front.
Scott Ryan President, Special Minister of State
That is the second day in a row Senator Hinch has raised this. It is a legitimate query. It's the second time it has been raised today. I will start to enforce the limits on noise volume more strictly because senators have directly requested me to do so. I ask senators up at this more action-oriented end of the chamber to keep their colleagues at the other end in mind, as we've had two complaints they cannot hear questions or answers.