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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister satisfied that the Deputy Prime Minister's allocation of a staffing position, first in the ministerial office of Senator Canavan, then in his own office and then in the office of the Nationals whip, meets the high standards expected of his ministers?

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

I thank the honourable member for his question. As I said earlier, under the coalition arrangements the Nationals have a share of the personal staff pool that is available to the government, and the allocation or distribution of those staff between offices in the National Party, whether it's ministers or others, is a matter for the National Party. My office performs an essentially administrative role in advising that to the Department of Finance. I'm advised that is the way it has operated—

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will pause for a second. I couldn't have been clearer before. The member for Wakefield will leave under 94(a). The member for Gorton is ready to follow him very quickly and a number of others.

The member for W ake field then left the chamber.

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

That is how it operates, and I'm advised that's how it's operated for many years.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs will leave under 94(a).

The member for Isaacs then left the chamber.