Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question without notice is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to a letter of 14 March from Mr David Yunus, a homeowner in Marrickville in Sydney, who says an insulation contractor offered him $50 cash if he agreed to allow the contractor to install home insulation in the roof of his home. Is the Prime Minister aware of any other allegations of homeowners being offered kickbacks or cash inducements under the government’s home insulation scandal?

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

I thank the honourable member for his question. Could I say to the honourable member in response to his question that he should look carefully at what the Minister for Energy Efficiency has said recently about the question and the challenge of fraud both in relation to this program and others. I say to the honourable member that if he has particular information relevant to any allegation of fraud concerning this program, he has a responsibility to make that information available directly to the minister so that appropriate action can be taken by the relevant law enforcement authorities. I would say the same to all other members of this place because, when it comes to any fraudulent treatment of taxpayer money, we want to make sure that the law enforcement agencies have all that information available to them so that appropriate action can be taken.

Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order, I seek leave to table the letter from Mr David Yunus in relation to this matter.

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

Is leave granted?

Leave not granted.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: in the Prime Minister’s answer he specifically said that we should provide more information to be investigated. We have asked to table the letter and they refused leave. On what basis would they be doing so?

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

Order! I cannot make comment on any perceived contradiction—but there may not be one. The question was whether the document could be tabled. I sought an indication from the House as to whether leave was granted. The leave has not been granted.