Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Special Minister of State. Can the minister advise the House whether it is appropriate for coalition senators to regularly relocate their electorate offices to maximise electorate returns for coalition candidates in House of Representatives elections?

Gary Nairn (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. Changes take place with all members of parliament and senators quite regularly, actually. In fact, since becoming Special Minister of State I have been quite surprised at the number of changes that take place with respect to electorate offices, and it happens right across the board. Circumstances change, electorates change, responsibilities change—

Government Member:

Senators change.

Gary Nairn (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and senators change—exactly. Senators change as well. I think members on both sides make decisions and ask for changes to be made quite specifically to provide a much better service to their constituents, and I commend all members and senators for doing that.