Senate debates

Thursday, 17 October 2019

Questions without Notice

Prime Minister

2:51 pm

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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. In an article in this morning's TheAustralian entitled 'It's Brian Houston, and the Prime Minister does have a problem', Niki Savva said:

Taxpayers and voters have every right to know who was there—or not—and why, and media has a duty to ask. It is not gossip, and it is everybody's business, not just the Prime Minister's.

Why has the Prime Minister repeatedly refused to deny reports that he sought to have Brian Houston invited to the White House?

2:52 pm

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

I note that Senator Keneally has read The Australian this morning. It is good to know that the Murdoch press is now getting favour with Senator Keneally. Let me just say that I have got nothing to add to the Prime Minister's statement on the topic.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, a supplementary question?

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

In question time on Monday the Prime Minister again refused to say whether or not he sought to have Brian Houston invited to the White House. Did the Prime Minister or his office seek to have Brian Houston invited to the White House—yes or no?

2:53 pm

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

I refer Senator Keneally to my primary answer.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, a final supplementary question?

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

Let's try it this way: why did the Prime Minister seek to have Brian Houston invited to the White House?

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

I don't have anything to add to my previous two answers.