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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that he spoke to the Queensland Premier on Friday morning about the appointment of the member for Groom as Queensland Resources Investment Commissioner? Did the Prime Minister attempt to interfere in the independent process, including, but not limited to, requesting that the appointment be delayed until after the federal election?

Mr Dutton interjecting—

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

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection will cease interjecting.

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

I thank the honourable member for his question. I am surprised that this is the most important issue that he raises today. Let me say that I speak to premiers, as every Prime Minister does, regularly, and we speak confidentially on many matters. I can say that the Premier of Queensland and I—while we have some political differences, of course—both share enormous admiration for the member for Groom, and we hold him in the highest regard.

The member for Groom will not be recontesting the election, so he will not be returning to the chamber after the election. He is a great Australian. He was a great minister. The member for Brand and I agreed on this in the chamber earlier today. Approaching this matter with somewhat more dignity and worthiness than his leader does, the member for Brand recognised the vision that the member for Groom had. Of course, one of his great achievements is the Second Range Crossing, but we agreed that in many respects his greatest achievement was his long-range vision, building up the natural resources of Australia, building up our gas endowment to set Australia's prosperity up not just for decades but for half a century.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs will cease interjecting. The member for Jagajaga will cease interjecting as well. The member for Jagajaga did interject twice through the answer. I keep very copious notes here.