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

My question is to the Prime Minister. The member for Fadden was forced to resign after it was revealed that, while he was Assistant Minister for Defence, he promoted a deal between a major Liberal Party donor and a Chinese government owned mining company. Has the Prime Minister obtained any advice about whether the disgraced former assistant defence minister's conduct may have jeopardised Australia's national security, and will the Prime Minister rule out reappointing him to the frontbench?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

Members on my right will cease interjecting. The Prime Minister has the call.

Mr Laming interjecting—

The member for Bowman 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, which comes as yet another example of the abuse he prefers to use question time for. I would say to the honourable member that the maintenance of the compliance with ministerial standards is the highest priority. I maintain the maintenance of those ministerial standards. As far as future ministerial appointments go, the honourable member should understand that I will always ensure that ministerial standards are complied with both prospectively and, of course, in the past and dealt with appropriately in accordance with those standards. I reject the shabby smear that the honourable member chose to use his question for.