Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens
3:31 pm
My question is to Minister Cash. Did any of your female staff members advise you to not hire—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Scott Ryan President
There was a bit of discussion about the question list order. Can I ask you to commence again, Senator Waters; my apologies.
Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens
My question is to Minister Cash. Did any of your female staff members advise you not to hire or to rehire Andrew Hudgson or warn you in any way of his history of poor behaviour towards women?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
3:32 pm
Thank you for the question. The answer to the question is no.
Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens
I'm happy if the minister needs to take that first question on notice to assure herself that that is, in fact, correct. But I shall persist. Did the minister at any time tell the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister's office of any concerns that may have been raised about Mr Hudgson and his attitude to women?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
If I recall, Mr Hudgson worked for me four years ago for a short period of time as an assistant media adviser, and the answer is again no.
Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens
Did Mr Hudgson work for you at any time when Ms Brittany Higgins or Ms Rachelle Miller also worked for you?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
3:33 pm
In relation to Ms Higgins, no. In relation to Ms Rachelle Miller, there may have been a crossover of three or four weeks, but I would need to take advice on that because it was, as I said, around four years ago.