Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the foreign minister sought and been granted permission, in writing, each and every time he has travelled overseas since September last year? In each case, has the Prime Minister warned the foreign minister that accommodation costs should be kept to an acceptable minimum?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In answer to the member's question, of course there is a travel approval process through my office for the foreign minister and all ministers who travel. The foreign minister and all ministers who travel are frequently told that they need to do all things necessary to be prudent with taxpayers' dollars and keep costs down.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table correspondence between the foreign affairs minister and the Prime Minister showing that—

Leave not granted.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The House will come to order. I have warned the minister about that as well. The minister will behave himself.