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

I seek leave to move:

That the House:

(1) notes that during a trip to China in August 2014 the Minister for Human Services provided assistance to Nimrod Resources by:

(a) participating in a signing ceremony which sealed a mining deal between Nimrod Resources and a Chinese state-owned company;

(b) presenting what have been described as a letter of appointment and a medal from the Prime Minister to an official of the Chinese state-owned company; and

(c) meeting with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Land and Resources, accompanied by executives of Nimrod Resources;

(2) notes that:

(a) the minister himself has stated in the House that his visit to China was in a personal capacity;

(b) except where the Prime Minister has given permission to continue an interest in a family business, the Prime Minister's own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a personal capacity; and

(c) the minister repeatedly answers each question asked in the House by referring to his earlier statement, even where it bears no relevance to the question being asked; and

(3) calls on the Minister for Human Services to immediately attend the House to:

(a) give a full and comprehensive account of his activities during his trip to China, including a full account of his itinerary, program, meetings and speeches; and

(b) explain to the House and to the people of Australia why he has not yet resigned for breaching the Prime Minister's statement of ministerial standards.

Mr Ewen Jones interjecting—

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

The member for Herbert.

Mr Ewen Jones interjecting—

The member for Herbert is warned. Is leave granted to move the motion? Leave is not granted.

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

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Isaacs from moving the following motion forthwith—

That the House:

(1) notes that during a trip to China in August 2014 the Minister for Human Services provided assistance to Nimrod Resources by:

(a) participating in a signing ceremony which sealed a mining deal between Nimrod Resources and a Chinese state-owned company;

(b) presenting what have been described as a letter of appointment and a medal from the Prime Minister to an official of the Chinese state-owned company; and

(c) meeting with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Land and Resources, accompanied by executives of Nimrod Resources;

(2) notes that:

(a) the minister himself has stated in the House that his visit to China was in a personal capacity;

(b) except where the Prime Minister has given permission to continue an interest in a family business, the Prime Minister's own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a personal capacity; and

(c) the minister repeatedly answers each question asked in the House by referring to his earlier statement, even where it bears no relevance to the question being asked; and

(3) calls on the Minister for Human Services to immediately attend the House to:

(a) give a full and comprehensive account of his activities during his trip to China, including a full account of his itinerary, program, meetings and speeches; and

(b) explain to the House and to the people of Australia why he has not yet resigned for breaching the Prime Minister's statement of ministerial standards.

The Prime Minister should show some leadership and sack this minister right now—immediately.

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

I move:

That the Member no longer be heard.

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

The question is that the member be no longer heard.

The House divided. [09:09]

(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

[Take in division at 09:09]

Question agreed to.

Is the motion seconded?

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

Seconded. The Prime Minister is incapable of making a decision. The minister has confessed here on the floor of the parliament to the breach of the code.

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

) ( ): I move:

That the Member be no longer heard.

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

The Minister for Trade and Investment has moved that the member be no longer heard.

The House divided. [09:16]

(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

[Take in division 375 at 09:16]

Question agreed to.

The question now is that the motion by the member for Isaacs be agreed to.

The House divided. [09:10]

(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

[Take in division 376 at 09:19]

Question negatived.