Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Through you, Mr Speaker, I ask: can the Prime Minister indicate when he will provide the information he has promised to provide in response to my questions? Will this information cover the question of briefing on opinion poll research which the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations so studiously avoided?

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

In response to the honourable member for Fraser, that is entirely up to the Prime Minister.

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

I am perfectly happy to oblige the member for Fraser. I indicated in my answer that I have not authorised the provision of anything. I have not authorised any briefings. I am not aware of any material having been provided. I said I would inquire of the minister. The minister has indicated that he has not, his staff have not and his department have not. I will continue to make inquiries. If I find there is anything that needs to be added, I will do so publicly, but let me say through you, Mr Speaker, to the member for Fraser that the truth is I am not aware of any information having been provided. I have not provided any, I have not authorised any and I would not think it appropriate to do so. In every respect, that is a complete, total, candid and thorough answer.