Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Isaacs from moving the following motion forthwith:

That the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) except where the Prime Minister has given permission to continue an interest in a family business, the Prime Minister's own Statement of Ministerial Standards puts a blanket ban on Ministers providing assistance to companies in a private capacity;

(b) the Minister for Veterans' Affairs provided assistance in a private capacity to Nimrod Resources to seal a mining deal with a Chinese state-owned company during a trip to China;

(c) the principal of Nimrod Resources who the minister accompanied to China has donated more than $2 million to the Liberal Party; and

(d) on the same trip, the Minister subsequently met with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Land and Resources; and

(2) calls on the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to immediately attend the House to provide a full explanation of his trip to China and explain why he has not breached the Prime Minister's Statement of Ministerial Standards.

The Prime Minister needs to show some leadership to this country. This minister has betrayed his duty to the Australian people.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the minister.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He has betrayed his duty to uphold the high office—

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Isaacs will resume his seat.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All those in favour say aye; all those against? I think the noes have it. Is a division required? Division required. Ring the bells for four minutes.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He has gone in a private capacity to assist a Liberal Party donor to seal a mining deal.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member will resume his seat. A division was called for.

Opposition members: No, it wasn't!

The minister called for a division.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't do it in your head. You have to say it.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He did.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did say it. Look at the tapes. I did say it.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order: in order for there to be a division, there need to be two voices calling for it. There were not.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There were.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Therefore, there can't—

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There were.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They are not allowed to call using their silent secret inside voices.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They did not use a silent secret voice.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They have to make a noise. They weren't.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I heard more than two voices, and the minister called for a division.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Three voices.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A division is required. Ring the bells for four minutes. The question is that the member be no longer heard.

Is the motion seconded?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion. The Turnbull government cannot cover up for this minister forever.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the speaker be no longer heard.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the question be now put.

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the question be put. There being more than one voice calling for a division, in accordance with standing order 133 the division is deferred until the conclusion of the discussion on the matter of public importance.

Debate adjourned.