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

My question is to the Prime Minister. While the allocation of certain staff has been delegated to the National Party, the enforcement of the Prime Minister's Statement of Ministerial Standards is the sole responsibility of the Prime Minister. So I ask: does the Prime Minister have complete confidence that the Deputy Prime Minister's allocation of staffing positions meets the high standards expected of his ministers?

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

The honourable member has not made any case to support the proposition that the staff movements he's referring to were in breach of the ministerial code. The question of whether the staff member concerned was a partner is a question of fact, as I said in response to the member for Isaacs. The Deputy Prime Minister has set out the facts. Members can form their own conclusion about that, but I've provided the description of 'partner'. It is essentially a cohabitation, a marriage-like relationship, hence the term 'marriage or de facto'. I think the circumstances are clear, but the honourable member has not been able to establish a breach of the ministerial standards or allege one. If he wishes to do so, he obviously, has the opportunity here.