Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister has already expressed confidence in the former Prime Minister, the former Treasurer, the former Minister for Cities and the former Special Minister of State does the Prime Minister still retain confidence in the current Minister for Human Services and Minister for Veterans' Affairs?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I can confirm that I have confidence in all of my ministers, including the Minister for Human Services. To save the honourable member's carefully orchestrated lead-up, which obviously relates to some media reports on the minister's trip to China in 2014—when he was in fact the assistant minister, the Minister for Defence Materiel—let me make the following observations. The minister travelled to China in August 2014 while on personal leave. His personal leave was approved, on behalf of the Prime Minister at the time, in accordance with the usual procedures. In relation to those media reports, I can confirm that I have asked the secretary of my department for advice in relation to the Statement of Ministerial Standards.