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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Australian Federal Police investigation into leaked national security documents. The Treasurer said this morning:

… whoever the culprit was, well, I certainly hope the Secretary of Defence gets their man or woman.

Will the Prime Minister today explicitly express confidence that this leak has not come from any current or former member of the National Security Committee of Cabinet?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. How could that possibly be within the Prime Minister's knowledge when, obviously, the purpose of the investigation is to determine from where the leak has come?

Mr Husic interjecting—

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

The member for Chifley will cease interjecting.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

The member for Lingiari will cease interjecting and the member for Isaacs will cease interjecting.

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

Mr Speaker, on that point of order: previously the Prime Minister has expressed confidence in ministers who are under investigation. We are now asking him whether he will express confidence in the National Security Committee and its former members. It would be extraordinary if that is a question that is somehow not allowed, particularly when investigations previously have provided no bar for the Prime Minister to express confidence in some of his former ministers.

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

I will make a brief comment. The question was broader than the way it was portrayed by the Manager of Opposition Business. The first part of the question was certainly within order, and I will ask the Prime Minister to address that. He can address any aspect of it, if he wishes.

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

Of course I have confidence in all of my ministers. As this matter is part of an ongoing investigation, including careful investigation by the Australian Federal Police, I am not going to comment on it any further. The Leader of the Opposition should consider whether he wants to continue to make mischief out of what is a very serious matter.