Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that the Sex Discrimination Commissioner has recently been reappointed for three years, after the expiry of her five-year appointment on 30 July this year? Why has the government kept this reappointment secret when the established practice is to announce such appointments publicly? Is the Prime Minister providing Pru Goward with a $253,000 safety net, including an accommodation allowance, in case, despite his support, Ms Goward is denied preselection by the extreme right-wing New South Wales Liberal Party?

Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Feminist hypocrite!

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My understanding is that Ms Goward has been reappointed. I will check with the Attorney-General as to the Executive Council and subsequent processes on whether there has been an announcement made. My understanding is that a person who is in a situation such as Pru Goward’s is entitled to seek political endorsement and is entitled to retain—

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is it a secret?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

hang on—his or her position until such time, if they are successful in the preselection, as nominations are called. My recollection, for example, is that the former Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth, Bob Ellicott, contested the preselection for Berowra. He was unsuccessful in the preselection. So was I, incidentally. I remember the preselection very well. He did not have to resign his position as Solicitor-General in order to contest the Liberal Party preselection. The basis of the argument of the member for Gellibrand is that we are trying to preserve a sinecure for somebody while they contest a political preselection. Just for the information of the honourable member: I am completely neutral in the preselection. I am not supporting anybody.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In the course of that question the member for Indi made an offensive remark about the member for Gellibrand and I ask that you have her withdraw it.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did not hear the interjection. However, if the member for Indi made an offensive remark, I would ask the member for Indi to withdraw that remark.

Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was no offensive remark. The member for Gellibrand, who herself is part of a quota system, is a token female here.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Indi will resume her seat.