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

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a private capacity. It is now clear that the Minister for Human Services did exactly that. Prime Minister, why is the minister still on your front bench and why will you not enforce your own standards? If you will not do that, what exactly do you stand for?

Ms Hall interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Shortland will cease interjecting.

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

I am sure that the members of the Australian Workers' Union who worked for Cleanevent know what the honourable member stood for. They know how he stood up for them. They know how well he dealt with full disclosure. They know how he took $25,000 from their employer while he traded off their penalty rates and did not tell them about the payments. That is what he knows about and he wants to lecture us about due process.

Let me tell you, this matter arose yesterday. It came up yesterday. Immediately I referred to it to the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Parkinson, who is the appropriate official to investigate matters of this kind under the ministerial standards.

Mr Husic interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley is warned.

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

The honourable members opposite, particularly those that have served as ministers, know very well that that is the correct process. That is what we are following and we are not going to deviate from the proper course of action by these sorts of opportunistic stunts let alone be lectured by somebody who sold some of the lowest paid workers in Australia down the river. He sold them down the river. There was no due process there. There was no full disclosure there. There was no accountability there. That is what he did. And when we apply due process and it does not give the results that he would like then he complains. Due process, accountability, integrity are what we stand for and are what we will deliver.

Ms Kate Ellis interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Adelaide will cease interjecting.