Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, a fourth Crown Casino whistleblower has now come forward and levelled further serious allegations of poker machines being illegally tampered with. Significantly, he names the Crown staff he alleges told him to modify machines and asked me to give these names to the police, which I'm doing. However, this worker fears for his safety and doesn't entirely trust the police or the regulators, and for that reason he asks you personally, and the opposition leader, to support a transparent inquiry. So, Prime Minister, will you establish a parliamentary inquiry so that the Australian people can learn the truth about the casino industry? Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table these latest allegations.

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

I call the Leader of the House.

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

As to the last part of the question, Mr Speaker—

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

The member for Denison will resume his seat.

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

As to the last part of the question, Mr Speaker, the purpose of tabling documents, of course, is not to allow slanderous or defamatory material to be covered by parliamentary privilege. As I haven't seen the documents, I will not be granting leave on this occasion.

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

Leave is not granted. The member for Denison's asked his question. He can resume his seat if he wishes to receive an answer. The procedures are very clear. He sought leave. I didn't get to ask whether leave was granted, but I've got the answer: leave is not granted. It's very clear, and the Prime Minister can now choose to address the question.

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

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the honourable member for the question. The police, the gambling regulators in Victoria and AUSTRAC are the appropriate people to investigate and examine these allegations. Those agencies have the necessary powers, extensive powers—indeed, powers far greater than a parliamentary committee. The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, I am advised, is investigating the allegations, and AUSTRAC is also examining the specific nature of the allegations of money laundering. If any members or senators are aware of allegations of unlawfulness, I strongly encourage them to report those directly to our law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Our law enforcement agencies do an outstanding job in keeping us safe and enforcing and upholding the rule of law, upon which our democracy depends. I encourage the honourable member to provide—

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

The member for Denison on a point of order. I'm prepared—

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, this man's in fear of his life and has lost faith in the regulator.

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

The member for Denison will resume his seat. I say to the member for Denison: there are courtesies, as I pointed out the other day, extended to members of the crossbench in terms of the length of their questions, but there is no favouritism on points of order. If you rise to seek a point of order, you need to state the point of order. It is not an opportunity to make a speech or to make a point you wished to make in your question. If the member for Denison or, for that matter, any other member repeats that, I will have to take further action. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

The honourable member, I believe, knows very well that the police, the gambling regulators and AUSTRAC are the appropriate agencies to whom to report these allegations and the appropriate agencies to investigate them, invested with all of the necessary powers. The idea that those investigations would be assisted by a simultaneous parliamentary inquiry almost beggars belief. I say to the honourable member that, if he is really concerned with ensuring that these allegations are investigated, that due process is applied and that justice is done, he would confide his revelations, his communications and his information on this matter to the police and the regulators. That is his duty as a member of this parliament and as someone committed to upholding the law.