Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment, in his capacity of responsibility for tourism. Is it the case that a restaurant in which the minister has a pecuniary interest has benefited from a taxpayer funded international marketing campaign undertaken by his own agency, Tourism Australia?

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is typical Labor: when you are losing the political debate you turn to muckracking. Muckraking is all this is. In regards to mud-slinging: if this is the best you can do, the member for Grayndler, you are losing it. This is pathetic and grubby.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

There will be silence for the answer.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For 12 months the member for Grayndler has been asserting to anyone who will bother to listen to him—

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

Answer the question!

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

The member for Ballarat.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that we do not have a minister for tourism. Now, today, he is accusing me, via a journalist, of having a conflict of interest as the minister for tourism.

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

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

The member for Rankin is warned.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Make up your mind. Are you going to sling mud or are you going to be active in the tourism business?

Opposition members interjecting—

You sit down too. This is grubby. This is very grubby.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are the grub! You should answer the question.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I simply ask that the minister address his comments through the chair.

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

Resume your seat. Before I ask the minister to resume the call—and I will listen to the Leader of the House in a moment—this is a serious question that is being answered and I expect some respect from the chamber, and from that end as well.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Isaacs is also using unparliamentary language—unparliamentary language which I have been asked to withdraw in the past. I would ask him to withdraw it.

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

I ask the member for Isaacs to withdraw.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I used the same term as the minister and I withdraw, as should the minister.

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

Minister, it would assist the House if you would withdraw the term used.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I said it was a grubby business.

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

That is quite parliamentary.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Grubby business is what I said. Is that parliamentary?

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

That is parliamentary.

Mr Husic interjecting—

The member for Chifley will leave under 94(a).

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As far as the specific issue that was raised, I fully disclosed the extent of my interest and my involvement in the Boathouse cafes when I was given my current responsibilities 12 months ago. That was fully disclosed. As such, the only relevant issue here is whether I have sought to influence in any way or at any time the approach of Tourism Australia towards this business. The answer to that question is an emphatic no.