Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts. It has been reported that at the National Press Club the minister made a statement that he did not know how much the Commonwealth paid for land adjacent to the proposed Western Sydney airport until he read the Auditor-General's report. Is this correct?

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

The Leader of the House, on a point of order?

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, that's clearly not with respect to the member's present portfolio. It's with respect to a previous portfolio.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Leader of the House is entitled to raise a point of order, and I'm entitled to hear it without interjections. As I said the other week, I don't know why a member would want to come to Canberra, particularly from Victoria, and quarantine for 14 days to then be thrown out. It defies logic. I want to hear the Leader of the House. The Leader of the House should not have to yell over interjections.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, the exception to that rule is statements that might be made. Someone saying that they didn't know about something can hardly be said to be a statement on a matter of fact. The statement has to be a positive and substantial reference to something. They asked a question, and saying that you don't know does not constitute an exception to that rule.

Mr Burke interjecting—

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

I won't call the Manager of Opposition Business, if that's alright. I hear what the Leader of the House is saying, but the practice makes very clear—and I won't take the House right through it unless they want to—that, yes, ministers can't be asked about any question at all, in fact, about their administration of previous portfolios, but they can be asked about their public statements. A public statement, as far as the practice is concerned, is simply that. Now, I understand the point the Leader of the House is making, but that doesn't preclude the minister being asked about it. What the minister says in response is his or her business. I call the minister.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was asked a number of questions when I appeared at the National Press Club on 23 September about this matter. I gave very comprehensive answers, and I stand by my answers.