Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. The Prime Minister failed to assure the parliament last week that Ms Liu was a fit and proper person. Why?

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

The Prime Minister refused to play Labor's word games. The Prime Minister has made it very clear that he has full confidence in the member for Chisholm—as did the majority of voters in the seat of Chisholm, which is, of course, what this is all about. The Labor Party thinks this is somehow a backdoor way to turn back the verdict of the Australian people at the last election. That is what this is all about.

The core accusation that Labor levelled at Ms Liu was being a member of an organisation, or a number of organisations, that the Labor candidate was a member of too. Do you think that the Labor Party would be asking these questions if the Labor candidate had prevailed at the last election? Of course not. This is a transparent, politically opportunist attack. The implication of what Labor is suggesting—everybody knows what the imputation is that you're trying to get up without actually saying so. That is why I say you are guilty of a disgraceful exercise in dog whistling; you know precisely what you're doing. There are many on the Labor side that are embarrassed by the judgements that the leadership of the Labor Party has made in relation to this.

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

Senator Kitching, a supplementary question?

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has refused—

Senator Wong interjecting—

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

Order, Senator Wong! I can't hear Senator Kitching.

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has refused to require Ms Liu to make a statement to the parliament. Why?

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

The Labor Party is pursuing this conspiracy theory, which doesn't do them any credit at all. Ms Liu made a statement last week. It was tabled in the parliament. It has got the force of being tabled in the parliament in her name. This is just more of the Labor Party's games.

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

Senator Kitching, a final supplementary question?

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister misled the Australian people on his use of the term 'Shanghai Sam'. Why?

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

That question relies on an assertion that I've taken on notice, and so I will get back to the Senate once I've—

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

There's a difference between zero and 17!

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

I don't know why you're asking a question if you think that you know the answer! If you think you know the answer, then why are you asking a question? I've taken it on notice and I will ensure that the answer I provide to the Senate is accurate.