Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. How many SAS soldiers have been disciplined or sacked for daring to raise concerns about your government’s demands for debt repayment of up to $50,000? Does the minister believe that the SAS soldiers who speak out on this issue should be sacked or disciplined?

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The key point here is that the member for Paterson asked me a question relating to a determination by the independent Defence Force review tribunal, and the implementation of that decision by the Department of Defence—

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Baldwin interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I simply say to the member for Paterson that I will listen carefully to the minister. I understand that he is raising the question of relevance. I will listen carefully to the minister’s response to today’s question.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When the impact of the implementation of that decision on the special forces soldiers came to my attention, I immediately directed Defence to suspend any recovery action. I was advised, as late as about five to two this afternoon, that that suspension remains in place. I told the House last year that I would fix this problem. In addition to directing Defence to suspend the recovery payments, I have also directed them to fix the problem. I have been frustrated that Defence has been so slow to fix the problem, but on 18 February the Chief of Army, who has intervened in this issue at my request, issued a directive which will suspend the operation of the tribunal’s determination both retrospectively and prospectively. I reaffirm my commitment to this House that no—

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. I did not ask him about the pay. I asked him about the disciplinary action, as per this email, threatening military staff that if they raised it with their members of parliament they would—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member will resume his seat. The member for Paterson has asked his question. He has been given a great deal of latitude. He should sit—

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will be the decision maker on that, Minister.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I repeat that I directed that any recovery action be suspended. That suspension remains in place. I repeat my guarantee to this House and to all special forces soldiers who may have been—

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Baldwin interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Member for Paterson will resume his seat.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I repeat to all those who may have been caught up in this incident that I remain committed, and in fact I guarantee that no special forces soldier will be financially disadvantaged by the implementation of the independent Defence Force tribunal’s determination of March 2008.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. The point of order is on relevance. The minister has not addressed one point in the question.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister has concluded his answer.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Then I seek leave to table the email order for people not to address—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Albanese interjecting

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Leave is not granted. The member will resume his seat.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Paterson will withdraw his comment.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw ‘gutless’ and I call him scared.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Paterson knows that he must withdraw without—

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, they have not answered the question at all and now they refuse to allow—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Paterson will leave the chamber for one hour under standing order 94(a).

The member for Paterson then left the chamber.

Reluctantly, because this has import for everybody in the chamber, I now issue a general warning. People will understand this is the first time I have used this device, because I think it is a fairly crude device when, on occasion, only one side or sections of the chamber have been at fault.

Government Member:

The left side.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Reluctant as I am to do it this way, whoever made that comment has one hour.

The member for Solomon then left the chamber.