Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. I refer to reports in today's Herald Sun that the Liberal Party was warned against preselecting Ms Liu for the seat of Chisholm. When the Prime Minister proclaimed, 'How good is Gladys Liu?' at her campaign launch, was he aware of any concerns regarding Ms Liu's suitability to sit as a member of the Australian parliament?

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

I completely reject the premise of the question. The Prime Minister has full confidence in the suitability of the member for Chisholm to sit in parliament.

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

Senator Keneally, a supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

When the Prime Minister and Ms Liu raised their hands together following her first speech, was he aware of any concerns regarding Ms Liu's suitability to sit as a member of the Australian parliament?

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

Ms Liu, the member for Chisholm, is an absolutely outstanding individual. She is a great Australia—

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

Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order?

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

The point of order is direct relevance. No-one asked Senator Cormann to give a character reference in relation to the member for Chisholm. In fact, we didn't put that to him. We asked a very specific question, which was about whether or not the Prime Minister, at the time Senator Keneally referenced, was aware of any concerns regarding the member for Chisholm's suitability. It is a very specific question.

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

Senator Wong—

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

If he answered it, then say no.

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

If I could rule—the minister has been speaking for eight seconds and I don't believe he completed a sentence. I will listen carefully to his answer. Senator Cormann.

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

As I have already indicated in my answer to the primary question, the Prime Minister does not have any concerns about Ms Liu's suitability to be a member of the parliament. Indeed, Ms Liu is an outstanding Australian. She came here as a migrant and has done exceptionally well. She has worked as a speech pathologist in the Victorian department of education and early childhood. She opened up her own restaurant and worked in that small business. She was president of the Box Hill Chess Club. She was special adviser to the Victorian Premier on Chinese affairs. She was head of development and corporate social responsibility adviser for Canaan Lawyers. She came to Australia as a migrant. She has worked hard. She's done her best. She put herself forward for consideration by the people of Chisholm, and she won the election. (Time expired)

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

Senator Keneally, a final supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

Media reports indicate that Ms Liu's office is forwarding all media inquiries to the Prime Minister's office and that Ms Liu's statement was drafted by the Prime Minister's office. Are these reports correct?

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

Ms Liu issued a statement yesterday in her name. That's her statement. It's on the public record. This is the Labor Party pursuing a smear against a recently elected member of parliament just because they are still going through the seven stages of grief at not having won a seat they thought they already had in their pocket. Do you think the Labor Party would be asking the same questions if the Labor candidate in Chisholm had won that election, who was a member of the state organisations—

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

Order! Senator Keneally, on a point of order?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

It is on direct relevance. The question was very specific, asking the minister if the reports in the media today are correct—that Ms Liu's office is forwarding all media inquiries to the Prime Minister's office and that Ms Liu's statement was drafted by the Prime Minister's office.

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

On the point of order about direct relevance, I said earlier—and the minister did not breach this—that observations about other people were not in order with specific questions. The question did reference the statement. I heard the minister talking about the statement; I believe that is relevant. I can't instruct him how to answer the question. And I might be honest and say a glancing statement that is political in an answer would not be foreign to this particular chamber. But I'm listening very carefully to his answer. I believe he was talking about the statement, and that is directly relevant.

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

As I have indicated, the member for Chisholm's issued statement is on the public record, but I make the broader point that the only reason the Labor Party is pursuing this smear—

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

Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order?

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

The question went to whether or not the reports that Ms Liu's office were forwarding all media inquiries to the PMO and that her statement was drafted by the PMO were correct. That was the only question asked. I would say to you, Mr President, that is more than 'glancing'. The minister has refused to even touch the question as to whether the reports that the PMO drafted the statement and was dealing with media inquiries are correct.

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

You've reminded the minister of the question, Senator Wong. I cannot instruct him how to answer a question. He is required to be directly relevant. And, as I've said before, a glancing comment might be in order, but it is not appropriate to talk about others when the question is so specific.

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

As I've said several times now, there's a statement that was issued by the member for Chisholm—

Opposition senators: Who wrote it?

under her authority, her name. It is her statement, presenting her story, and if the Labor Party actually took— (Time expired)