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

My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Last week the Minister for Home Affairs told parliament:

I've recused myself from discussions where that's been deemed appropriate.

But leaks from within the government confirm the minister did not absent himself from a single cabinet meeting during the entire life of the Turnbull government. Does the minister stand by his earlier answer, or will the minister now correct the record?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. As I repeated again this morning during a press conference, Labor first raised the section 44 issue back in October. They didn't make any mention of it whatsoever. They looked at all of the detail and made no mention of the issue at all until a fortnight to three weeks ago. It shows you that the Labor Party is determined to play politics on this issue, nothing more, nothing less. The advice I have from Mr Guy Reynolds SC—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition has been warned.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Reynolds states in his advice to me:

… Mr Dutton cannot have a pecuniary interest in an agreement within the meaning of section—

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

The minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance—the minister is answering the question that was asked last week. This question does not go to section 44 at all. This question is about his obligation as a minister, a cabinet minister, on recusing himself from cabinet. The issues that he's referring to, while important, are not the subject of this question.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business makes a reasonable point. The minister is entitled to a preamble, but the question went to whether the minister stood by a statement last week, and associated issues. So I'll just ask the minister to bring himself to the question that was asked.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the advice to me, it states:

… Mr Dutton cannot have a pecuniary interest in an agreement within the meaning of section 44(v) by virtue of the trustee company’s receipt of payments under this statutory scheme.

That is by way of preamble, and as I have stated previously I have always complied with the Statement of Ministerial Standards and the Cabinet Handbook in declaring any interests.