Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Yesterday the Senate exercised its power to extend question time to allow more scrutiny of this government. Reports suggest that the government intends to retaliate by stripping opposition committee deputy chair positions in the other place. Does the government seriously believe it has the right to punish senators for voting to strengthen accountability in this parliament, and will the Prime Minister immediately rule out these petty, vindictive threats?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am advised, Minister Farrell, that the question does not go to your portfolio responsibilities, so I invite you to respond in whatever way you think fit.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Acting Leader of the Opposition in the Senate for her question. I'm happy to answer every question that I'm asked in my usual forthright and transparent way. I'm unaware of these reports that you're referring to. Certainly, from my point of view, I'm not a vindictive sort of fellow. Am I? I certainly don't bear grudges. But I will make this observation, Senator Ruston: if the coalition seriously intend to be a party of government ever again—I don't know whether that is in your contemplation—there has to be a degree of maturity and common sense in the coalition in the way they approach the way in which this chamber is governed.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I raise a point of order on direct relevance. I simply asked the—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. Senator Ruston, I explained at the beginning of the question that it was outside the minister's portfolio area and he was to answer it in any way he saw fit, so there is no point of order.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston is asking for clarification.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. We're not seeking clarification. This is question time. You've put your question, I've ruled on it and the minister is answering.

I sought advice from the clerk. I'm not in a debate with you, Senator Ruston. I made it very clear at the outset that the question was outside the portfolio area. I have made that assessment on previous—

Senator McGrath, come to order!

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister is bullying this chamber.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, come to order! You need to withdraw that, Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, I invite you to continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am a little bit mystified by Senator Ruston's point of order given that I've offered to answer the question and I'm answering it in the only way I can, which is an honest answer in response to her question. But the point I'm trying to make to the coalition and to all of their colleagues—I know there's a degree of division within their groups, and I've read about a lot of that— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, first supplementary?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under our system of responsible government, the executive is accountable to the parliament. The government doesn't get to dictate to the Senate how it conducts its business. Why is the government so afraid of answering questions and so determined to keep Australians in the dark about how it operates?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Ruston, for your first supplementary question. We're here to answer the questions.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, answer them.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I answered your first question. I answered your first question very directly, and I'll repeat the message I'm trying to give. I'll repeat the message that, one of these days, maybe you'll be back in government, and you will understand just how important it is for the opposition to act in a responsible way. To engage in cheap tricks with Senator Pocock is not the way you are going to regain the trust of the Australian people. You're not going to get back. You're not going to get back into responsible government if you behave in this fashion.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, second supplementary?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table Senator Wong's speech to this parliament on this very matter.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Courtesies that exist across this chamber are exercised—give notice of what you want to table.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, I believe that the government is having a look at that document. We'll come back to that.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Centre for Public Integrity report card released this week assessed the Albanese government's transparency and accountability as 'woefully inadequate'. Don't these extraordinary threats of reprisal prove that the Centre for Public Integrity's damning assessment of the government's secrecy and lack of accountability is correct?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ruston for her second supplementary question. I don't accept the assessment that's been made about the transparency of this government. Can I give you one example in my own portfolio area. I sat down with the opposition and other parties in the course of the last parliament to make some changes to the electoral laws in this country.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not relevant to the question, Don.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is absolutely relevant because, at the next election, for the first time, when Australians go in to vote, they will know exactly who has made a contribution to the candidate that they're contemplating voting for—for the first time in our history. Not only that, but the level of donation has been dropped from— (Time expired)