Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. When the Deputy Prime Minister stood beside the Prime Minister in Toowoomba and boasted about how cheap it was to live in Armidale, had the Deputy Prime Minister advised the Prime Minister, in accordance with the ministerial standards, that he was living in a rent-free home, or was the Prime Minister completely unaware of this?

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

I thank the honourable member for his question. I don't know—I don't recall the Deputy Prime Minister advising me of that. However, he did, of course, provide advice in the normal way, and early in—when was it? February? I'm just checking. It was quite recently. I just want to be clear. He filed a member's interest statement. One of the obligations is to do that, under the ministerial standards. He's done that. And he disclosed that he had free accommodation in Armidale.

Opposition Member:

An opposition member interjecting—

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

I think you'll find he did.

Opposition members interjecting—

Well, I don't—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left.

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

I hesitate to get into a debate here.

Opposition members interjecting—

No. He has—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left. The member for Greenway.

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

Look: in clause 11 of his statement, he states, 'Post—

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

12 February.

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

12 February, is it? Right. 'Post-election residual of six-month tenancy of Armidale premises.' Prior to that, I was not aware that he had rent-free accommodation in Armidale.