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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Senator Pauline Hanson and the member for Warringah met yesterday. After the meeting, Senator Hanson stated: 'Tony and I had a frank discussion about various bills coming up. He gave his considered opinion with regards to them.' Given the meeting goes directly to the government's agenda, has the member for Warringah conveyed a report of the outcome of the meeting to the Prime Minister?

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

The Leader of the House.

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

Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister is not responsible for the opinions of other members of parliament, particularly those on the back bench. Therefore, how on earth can he answer these questions and why on earth would anyone expect the member for Warringah or any other member to make notes of their discussions with other members of parliament and provide them to the Prime Minister? Allowing this question to be asked sets a very dangerous precedent, because it means that the Prime Minister is apparently responsible for private conversations between individual members of parliament, and that is obviously not in order.

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

Mr Speaker—

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

I will hear the Manager of Opposition Business.

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

Mr Speaker, the precedent which is set by this question is whether or not we are allowed to ask the Prime Minister what reports he has received. That is the question that is being asked and that must be in order.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I did allow the last question. I said it was line-ball. Many speakers would have ruled it out of order. The Prime Minister is responsible for his ministry. The Prime Minister is not responsible for other members of parliament, those who are not part of the executive, and I am not going to rule this question in order. The Prime Minister has answered the previous question—I allowed that—but I am not going to rule this question in order. I think it would lead to a whole range of questions of a fishing expedition on 150 members of the House of Representatives. That is my ruling.

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

It is more likely to be on one!

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

Well, I am not going to enter into any commentary, and I do not think it is a question that is capable of being rephrased, given my ruling, so I am going to move to the next question.