Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare) Share this | Hansard source

I certainly do not mean any disrespect to the minister present; we are grateful for his presence indeed. But I find it extraordinary that the minister who is prepared to mouth off in public day after day about the great things that his government is doing for Indigenous affairs, child care and the other areas in his responsibility does not have the common courtesy to the parliament to turn up when he is expected to to answer questions about his portfolio responsibilities. I am sure that the minister present can answer questions about his areas of responsibility but he cannot answer about Minister Brough’s areas of responsibility. We were led to expect him here today, and I think we need to place it on record that it is an absolutely appalling act of arrogance not to turn up today. It is gutless in the extreme. Let me start by asking the minister that we do have present, who has had the courtesy to turn up, whether he is able to answer questions in the area of child care and Indigenous affairs.

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