Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Mr Morrison declared to the parliament in relation to former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate that 'she can go' but later claimed that Ms Holgate chose to resign of her own accord. Why did he say that when it wasn't true?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Grogan for the question. I would refer Senator Grogan to published statements from Australia Post at the time in relation to Ms Holgate's resignation.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, a supplementary question?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Morrison previously said that reports that he had tried to invite Brian Houston to the White House were 'gossip'. Why did the Prime Minister say that when it was not true?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe that the Prime Minister's addressed that question in the House of Representatives this question time, and I refer to the Hansard.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Grogan, a second supplementary question?

Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does Mr Morrison still stand by his statement that he has never told a lie in public life?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, indeed I'm sure he does. And do you know what? I'm not going to stand here and be lectured on integrity by the hypocrites opposite. I'm not going to be lectured on integrity by those who invented the 'Mediscare' campaign and decided that that was the way they were going to try to somehow win office: by scaring Australians on false policies. I'm not going to be lectured by those opposite, who are currently running the pensioner scare campaign, again trying to sneak into office on a falsehood. And I invite any one of them to stand up and apologise to Australian pensioners who, right now, they're erroneously trying to scare into believing policies that simply do not exist and that Senator Ruston has refuted time and time again. Those opposite come into this chamber and love to talk endlessly about car park programs, when of course they invented the car park programs themselves and were happily touring the country announcing them themselves—those opposite, trying to run their TikTok dirty tricks against the Prime Minister. That's the hypocrisy on show from those opposite. (Time expired)