Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Special Minister of State. I refer to the minister’s previous answer to the question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, when he was asked about the budget for the government’s industrial relations PR campaign, that the budget was a matter for departments. I refer to the government’s own website which refers to the guidelines governing the operation of the Ministerial Committee for Government Communications, which is the committee that the minister chairs, where it states that the committee must adhere to the guidelines and that those guidelines include ‘calculations based on value for money’. How can the minister stand at the dispatch box and tell us he has no responsibility for considering budgets for such a campaign when plainly his guidelines require him to do so? Minister, will you stand at the dispatch box and simply tell the parliament how much the budget is for this campaign?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Members opposite are repeating the same question over and again. It has been fully and very capably answered by the Special Minister of State. If they want additional information, they should direct their questions to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

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

I have listened carefully to the question. I believe that the question raised new points. Therefore, I call the Special Minister of State.

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

With respect, I have answered this question before, but I am happy to answer it over and again. The MCGC does act in accordance with the guidelines, which in fact were brought down by the previous Labor government. We take our responsibilities very seriously and ensure that it is good value for money. That is why—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The minister has the call.

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

the committee determines the balance between television, print, radio—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The member for Holt. The member for Lilley.

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

in accordance with the overall budget—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The member for Lilley is warned.

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

provided by the relevant department.