Senate debates Questions without Notice
Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education
Kristina Keneally NSW, Australian Labor Party
2:13 pm
My question is to Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator Cash. I refer to the minister's previous statement that she attended Prime Minister Turnbull's question time briefing to assure him that she did not leak to the media advanced notice of the independent police raid on AWU offices. Does she stand by her statement that Prime Minister Turnbull did not ask if anyone in her office had prior knowledge of that raid?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education
The answer to that question is yes.
Kristina Keneally NSW, Australian Labor Party
The minister has previously confirmed that her former senior media adviser and chief of staff—the two senior staff implicated so far in the leaking of advanced notice of an independent police raid—were present at the briefing with former Prime Minister Turnbull. What steps, if any, did the minister take prior to her meeting with Prime Minister Turnbull to satisfy herself that none of her staff were involved in the leaking?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education
2:14 pm
I think all senators know I have answered copious questions on this. It is a matter of public record.
Kristina Keneally NSW, Australian Labor Party
) ( ): Given we now know the minister's office communicated advanced knowledge of the independent police raid to Minister Keenan's office, can the minister guarantee that there was no request or direction from Prime Minister Turnbull's office to leak advanced knowledge of the independent police raid to the media?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education
2:15 pm
And, again, as I've stated, the Labor Party are providing me with information that I am not privy to and I have no way of verifying. Given that I will be answering questions on this in court tomorrow, it is not appropriate for me to answer any further questions.