Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator McKenzie. In an article in this morning's Age newspaper entitled 'Dutton sought job help for mate' it is revealed that Minister Dutton pressed former Border Force chief Roman Quaedvlieg to help two Queensland policemen get jobs in the Australian Border Force. On how many occasions did Minister Dutton or his office raise the employment of Matt Stock, reportedly a good friend of Minister Dutton's, with Mr Quaedvlieg or the Border Force? When and with whom was Mr Stock's employment discussed?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Clearly, the claims that the minister influenced a recruitment process within the Australian Border Force are spurious. The procedures undertaken in the matter raised in the media were a normal Public Service recruitment process managed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. I understand that the procedures involved an external recruitment agency and a selection panel process to short-list the best available candidates. I'm also advised neither the minister nor his office had any involvement. Even the source of these claims, the former Border Force Commissioner, denies involvement in the interview, short-listing or selection process. That is my advice from the minister.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, a supplementary question?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On how many occasions did Minister Dutton or his office raise the employment of Mr John Lewis, the son of corrupt former police commissioner Terry Lewis, with Mr Quaedvlieg or the Border Force? When and with whom was Mr John Lewis's employment discussed, and was this matter ever discussed with former corrupt police commissioner Mr Terry Lewis?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I am asking for silence during questions so that I may hear them.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I stated in my first answer, my advice is that the claims are spurious, so I won't be answering any further questions on this matter.

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

You won't be answering further questions?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I won't be answering any further questions—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I will let Senator McKenzie conclude in response to what I will take as an interjection, and then I will call Senator Wong. Have you concluded your answer, Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She has concluded her answer. Did you wish to raise 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

The point of order was going to be direct relevance, but the minister is refusing to answer any questions. Do I take that as her response: 'I won't be answering any more questions'?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are matters for debate after question time and an opportunity to do so. I cannot instruct a minister how to answer a question. Senator Watt, a final supplementary question?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Reports indicate that after Mr Stock was employed by the Border Force, he became a departmental liaison officer in Minister Dutton's ministerial office. Is Mr Stock still employed as a departmental liaison officer in the minister's officer? And did Minister Dutton or his office suggest his 'mate' get a job in the minister's office?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the minister representing, I am unaware of the issues that you are raising, Senator Watt.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, have you concluded your answer? Senator Wong.

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

I would request that the minister take it on notice, as is the usual courtesy. The usual courtesy for a minister representing in this chamber—

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

A point of order!

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

Can you please stop shouting, Senator Macdonald.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Macdonald, I will come to you after I hear from Senator Wong. Senator Wong, have you concluded?

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

I have.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Okay. Senator Macdonald?

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

Mr President, again I ask: why is the leader of the opposition able to stand in her place and just have a chat? She doesn't raise a point of order. She just needs to get the cameras on her for some reason or other. I can understand why Senator Keneally is looking at her chair very carefully, but the same rules should apply to me as apply to Senator Wong as apply to all of us.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I am not going to call you until there is silence, Senator Collins.

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's what they do when you speak, Senator Macdonald!

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Keneally!

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

You don't have a chair after this.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Cameron!

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

You're gone.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Take a breath after I call your name, Senator Cameron.

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

Just move on.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Wong! On the point of order, Senator Collins?

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

On the point of order, Mr President, Senator Wong clearly indicated that the point of order was in relation to relevance. Senator Macdonald, because he is busy listening to himself shouting, may not have heard that; but she clearly indicated what the point of order was. It is not appropriate that the minister simply say in question time, 'That's a spurious matter and I'm not going to answer any further questions.' Question time will become a farce if that's allowed.

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

Senator Collins should apologise to me, because Senator Wong stood and didn't even mention—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Macdonald! I'm going to rule on this. On the first issue, there isn't an issue of direct relevance once the minister has concluded their answer. On the second issue that Senator Macdonald raised: there has always been some precedence and flexibility granted to leaders of government and opposition in this place, and I reflect that in my rulings. I will ask the leaders of parties across the crossbench, government and opposition to lead by example when it comes to interjections and disorderly behaviour. We have concluded, as far as I'm aware, that question, so I will move to Senator Brockman.