Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege. On Tuesday of this week in the House, the member for New England made malicious and false statements about Senator Barnaby Joyce. He claimed that:

In the seat of New England there are significant rumours that the National Party candidate for New England, who is currently a—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the National Party will resume his seat. The Leader of the House?

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

Speaker, on a point of order. I know he wants his job but what has that got to do with Senator Joyce? Senator Joyce should raise it.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the House will resume his seat. The Leader of the National Party has the call on a matter of privilege.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will read the quote from the start:

In the seat of New England, there are significant rumours that the National Party candidate for New England, who is currently a senator in Queensland, is to receive a quite substantial donation—some hundreds, perhaps even $700,000—from mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

Later, he said:

… I would like Ms Rinehart to clarify her position on how many hundreds of thousands she is giving to a candidate in New England. She does not reside in New England and I do not think she has any interest in New England. One has to ask why she is providing that sort of funding to a candidate in New England.

These accusations have been strongly refuted by Senator Joyce, and Ms Rinehart has issued a statement denying the member for New England's claims.

When questioned about these matters on Sky NewsAM Agenda this morning, Mr Windsor was asked by Kieran Gilbert, 'What proof do you have for that suggestion?' Tony Windsor said, 'I do not have any proof.' Kieran Gilbert said, 'So it was a rumour.' Tony Windsor said, 'Yes, I said it was a rumour.' Nevertheless, the member for New England had achieved his objective which was to have the baseless innuendo given prominence in the Tamworth's The Northern Daily Leader.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Could the Leader of the National Party come to the issue where he believes privilege has been breached?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The actions of the member for New England and his penchant for baseless and unproven accusations have again—it seems to me—breached parliamentary privilege. I ask you, Speaker, to review Hansard and the Sky News transcript and the statement by Ms Rinehart and consider whether there is a prima facie case of a breach of privilege, given that the statement by the member for New England was clearly made with malicious intent. I am happy to table these documents which might help you in your deliberations.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The documents can be tabled as it is an issue of privilege. The Leader of the House on a point of order?

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

That was a complete abuse and went precisely to what the member for New England is accused of by the Leader of the National Party, which is saying something in order to put it on the Hansard record.