Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Minister, can you confirm that no Labor MPs accepted free tickets or hospitality from gambling corporations or their lobby groups to attend the Midwinter Ball, held the night before Labor introduced its half-arsed gambling legislation to the parliament?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

First, I didn't attend the ball. A number of people did from all sides of the parliament. In relation to the—

Honourable Senator:

An honourable senator interjecting

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, I'm not sure what the interjection is. I'll try and stay focused. I apologise. In relation to disclosure, there are rules that senators and ministers have in relation to disclosing gifts and hospitality, and those will be complied with.

But, Senator, we've had this conversation before. The approach we take on issues of energy policy—including on the gas reservation—is because that is our view about what is the best public policy for Australia. I don't understand why you want to stand up on that. It's about a public policy position.

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Hodgins-May?

Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order, President: I asked whether any Labor MPs have accepted free tickets or hospitality. With respect, those disclosures will not happen for months.

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

Senator Hodgins-May—

Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

The public deserve to know now.

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

Senator Hodgins-May, I have reminded—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Order! I have reminded senators before: when you get up to call a point of order, it's not an opportunity to make a statement. The minister is being relevant to your question. Minister Wong, did you wish to continue?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, I apologise. I thought you said 'resources'. You said 'gambling'. I apologise. It was a genuine mistake. But the same answer applies. I don't know who goes to the ball with whom. I'm sure people might want to talk about that. But, in terms of the disclosure by anyone, whether it's the Greens political party, the opposition, One Nation or the Labor Party, I think we all are bound by the same disclosure rules.

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

Senator Hodgins-May—

Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I can confidently say that none of my colleagues—

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

Senator Hodgins-May, I haven't called you. Senator Hodgins-May.

Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I can confidently say that no Greens were sponsored by gambling corporations to attend the Midwinter Ball last night.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, can you confirm—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Hodgins-May, please resume your seat. Order! Order across the chamber. Order!

Senator Whish-Wilson, you're interjecting on one of your own senators. Perhaps you can turn around and apologise to her, because you didn't listen to me calling you to order. Senator Hodgins-May has the right to have her question heard in silence. Senator Hodgins-May, please continue.

Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, can you confirm that, during the consultation on Labor's watered-down gambling legislation, no Labor MPs accepted any other gifts or hospitality from gambling companies or lobbyists, including corporate box invitations or free tickets to sporting events?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, first, I'll take your interjection previously, in relation to the Greens not accepting any hospitality from gambling companies. I would note that you may not have been sponsored for a ticket, but your party has been sponsored by a professional gambler. So I think people can take with a grain of salt the assertions that you make.

Again, I would say: we all have disclosure arrangements; they apply to all of us. Particular disclosure requirements apply to ministers, and they are observed.

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

Senator Hodgins-May, second supplementary?

Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, do you think it passes the pub test for Labor's Attorney-General to attend the Midwinter Ball at a table paid for by a television lobby, alongside executives from companies she'd previously regulated as communications minister? Does that pass the pub test?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, generally the Midwinter Ball has been a time where we put aside partisan politics.

Well, that generally has been how it's been approached. But so be it, if you wish to open that up. But I would ask you whether you think it passes the pub test for you to take so many hundreds of thousands of dollars from a professional gambler and then complain about gambling.