Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his earlier answer to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in which he said he was not aware of whether he or his office—or, indeed, which government officers or agencies—were or had been involved in the decision-making process regarding the Oceanic Viking. Will the Prime Minister undertake to make inquiries and report back to the House with a definitive answer describing the extent to which his office or he himself was so involved in the decision-making process regarding the Oceanic Viking?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the first point, the member for Curtin asked me a question about decision-making processes concerning the destination of this vessel—that is, the port to which it is currently headed. On that particular matter, I myself had no engagement. As to the involvement of other agencies or individuals within the government, I do not know. Furthermore, can I say that diplomatic communications between one government and another, as is consistent with conventions going back a long time, are a matter of confidentiality and shall remain so.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—