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

My question is for the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. I refer to the party political advertisement published on the Prime Minister's social media channels at the height of the bushfire crisis that was authorised by 'S. Morrison, Liberal Party, Canberra'. Did the minister authorise the use of video footage containing Australian Defence personnel and assets in the Liberal Party's party political advertisement?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much for the question, Senator Kitching. The answer is very simple: that was the legislated requirement to go on that ad.

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

Senator Reynolds, have you concluded your answer? There is an opportunity to debate questions. Senator Kitching has an opportunity for supplementary questions. Senator Kitching?

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

Who authorised the use of video footage which contained Australian Defence personnel and assets in the Liberal Party's political advertising? When was that authorisation granted?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to that question, I'll have to go back and have a look at exactly what photos you're referring to. As Senator Kitching would be well aware, there is a gallery of photos available on the website for people to download and use. So that I don't mislead the Senate, I'll seek some further information on that and get back to you.

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

Senator Kitching, a final supplementary question.

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

The Australia Defence Association executive director, Neil James, said that the ad was 'plain wrong' and broke longstanding conventions on the use of the Australian Defence Force in advertising. How do you respond to Mr James?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll just point out what else he has said about the Australian Defence Force contribution to the bushfires. So that has been an amazing—

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

Senator Wong, on a point of order?

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

The point of order is direct relevance. We all support what the ADF has been doing. That is not the question. So I ask the minister not to cloak herself in the ADF's courage in these circumstances. We are asking this minister how she responds to Mr James's criticism of the political use of these images.

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

On the point of order, the question was specifically around comments regarding an advertisement and the role of the ADF, and to be directly relevant the minister must relate to those elements of the question.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I would remind those opposite is that it wasn't a ministerial—or it wasn't a prime ministerial, as I understand the piece that you're referring to. It was required to be authorised and it was authorised. It was not a piece of material from myself as the minister, so I will take that on notice.