Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the role of Senator Nash's former chief of staff in the redevelopment of the Cadbury factory in Tasmania. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that the former chief of staff or his company have not been, nor will be, direct financial beneficiaries of the government's decision to fund this $16-million upgrade?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will hear from the Leader of the House.

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

Madam Speaker, this is simply a fishing expedition on the part of the opposition. It is entirely hypothetical. And the Prime Minister—it is not within his executive control to answer.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order. The problem with that question is that it is not within the control or the responsibility of the Prime Minister to control a private enterprise firm.

Mr Burke interjecting—

I am making a statement! Sit down. Take your seat. If the member would care to rephrase her question so it is acceptable, we can try again.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I do need to seek your assistance on this matter. The $16 million is in the government's control. Contractual arrangements around that $16 million are in the government's control, and that is what I was referring to.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The problem with your question is that you are asking the Prime Minister to guarantee something which is not in his control to do.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will ask it again, but I do beg your assistance and I apologise for that. My question is again to the Prime Minister. I refer to the role of Senator Nash's former chief of staff in the redevelopment of the Cadbury factory in Tasmania. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that neither the former chief of staff nor his company will be a direct financial beneficiary of the government's contracted $16 million for this upgrade?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sorry; the member has not rephrased her question. But, if the Prime Minister wishes to answer, he may.

Mr Burke interjecting—

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. There is no standing order that gives you the right to ask for guidance during question time.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But, Madam Speaker, you have just ruled that there is a problem with the question, which is putting a limit on our capacity as to whether we can ask who is going to benefit from government funds. If we are not allowed to ask who is going to benefit from government funds, that is an extraordinary—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. He knows as well as anybody else that is not the point on which I was asking the member to rephrase her question. I call the honourable the Prime Minister.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am happy to do my best with all this, but I think I should point out to the House that this really does go to the judgement of the opposition. On a day when 5,000 jobs have been lost at Qantas, this is the best the opposition can do—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those on my left will desist, and the member for Ballarat will resume her seat!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to flog this particular dead horse, and dead horse it is.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. What is the point of order?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on relevance. This is a very serious issue about public funds and integrity.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has hardly opened his mouth. The member will resume her seat. I have been very tolerant of her this afternoon. Prime Minister, have you concluded your answer or do you wish to continue?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This $16 million grant towards tourism infrastructure in Tasmania was designed to boost employment and help the Tasmanian economy. This suggestion that there was something improper about this grant I deeply reject. I deeply reject it. There was absolutely nothing improper about this. It was so secret that it was taken to the election!

Ms Owens interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Parramatta has been warned. If she wishes to leave she will continue.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was so secret it was announced before half of the press gallery! It will benefit jobs and workers in Tasmania and I call on the opposition to support it.