Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

For any question to be asked in the House, it has to be to a minister, relating to their ministerial responsibilities. So the only way the question can be in order is for it to be answered by the minister who is representing the minister who has responsibility for the AEC. Page 549 of Practice makes it clear:

If a question has been addressed to the incorrect Minister, the responsible Minister may answer—

which is exactly what's happening.

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