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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann, and I refer again to the inconsistency between the evidence given in the Federal Court by Minister Cash's former senior media adviser and the answers given by both this minister and Minister Keenan. I ask: when was the Prime Minister aware of these inconsistencies, and, if so, was it prior to question time?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take that question on notice.

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

I thank the Leader of Government in the Senate.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Opposition Senator:

An opposition senator interjecting—

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

Order, on my right; and on my left in response.

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

Could the minister also answer: when did the Prime Minister's office become aware of the inconsistencies between the evidence given in the Federal Court by the senior media adviser to Minister Cash and Minister Cash and Minister Keenan?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take that question on notice too, but let me repeat this point. I think Senator Wong is getting into very dangerous territory here. The implication of her question is that because a statement is made by an individual in a court proceeding, somehow that becomes established fact. That is not the case.

Senator Jacinta Collins interjecting—

Senator Collins has just reflected on Senator Cash in an inappropriate fashion. It is of course established fact also that Senator Cash will be appearing as a subpoenaed witness in that same court on Friday. The proposition that the executive government should be providing a running commentary of statements by individual witnesses is completely inappropriate. Like all relevant ministers, both stand by the statements they've made on the public record, and the Prime Minister has full confidence in his ministers.

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

Can the minister representing Mr Morrison explain how the actions of Minister Keenan and Minister Cash align with the obligations for ministers under the Statement of Ministerial Standards, which I referenced earlier: 'the lawful and disinterested exercise of statutory and other powers available to their office'?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

None of the smear and innuendo that Senator Wong has put to this chamber in any way contradicts the statements that were made by Ministers Cash and Keenan.

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

Order, Senator Cormann. I have Senator Collins on a point of order.

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

Thank you, Mr President. I wouldn't ordinarily make this point of order, but this minister, in his earlier statement, referred to me making inappropriate remarks. You fortunately ignored such a suggestion. But now he's talking about smear and innuendo he should be asked to withdraw.

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

The words I recall the minister using were about an action, and in that case I don't consider them to be out of order. I will consider the Hansard if someone wants to make a submission that it was a reflection upon a senator, but I interpreted it as an action rather than a reflection.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

None of the smear and innuendo that has been put before this chamber actually points to any established fact that would demonstrate that any minister has acted inconsistently with the obligations of the ministerial code. I repeat my answer to a number of previous questions: the Prime Minister has full confidence in his ministers.