Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to her press conference on 23 August where she answered questions regarding the establishment of a slush fund for the re-election of union officials in the name of the Australian Workers Union Workplace Reform Association. Was the Prime Minister aware, at the time she assisted in the registration of the association in Western Australia, that the relevant law specifically precluded the registration of an association for the purpose of providing personal profit or benefit to individuals?

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Competitiveness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We'll take the high road.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Trade and Competitiveness is not assisting.

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

I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for her question. It seems very interesting to me—here today in parliament, in question time, what have we had? We have had the Leader of the Opposition going back to a business he was at a year ago, we have had the Deputy Leader of the Opposition referring to events two years ago, and now we have her asking about events 17 years ago. As the opposition find themselves without ideas and without a plan, as they let down the Australian people every day with their relentless negativity, we will not—

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This goes to a press conference on 23 August this year, where the Prime Minister herself answered questions in relation to a slush fund. She has now been asked: was she aware that the purpose of providing a personal profit was precluded? She has not answered that question.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. The Prime Minister has the call, and—

Government members interjecting—

The Prime Minister has the call and is not being assisted by the members of her own government. The Prime Minister has the call and will be relevant to the question.

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

There is no amount of bluster from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition that makes this a question about anything other than events 17 years ago. We stand here with a plan for the nation's future. They sit there with relentless negativity and a look in the rear-vision mirror of the past. I refer the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to my many public statements about this matter, including one of the longest press conferences ever given by a Prime Minister. To the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, can I say: try and find a policy or a plan; this is embarrassing. (Time expired)

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, I rise on a point of order—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat.