Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Communications. How many of the eight non-executive members of the Australia Post board are either former Liberal politicians or candidates or former senior officials of the Liberal Party?

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

I thank the shadow minister for her question. I make the point that when our government became aware on Thursday of the revelations in relation to watches in Senate estimates, we moved extremely quickly. Within an hour, we announced that there would be an inquiry—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The minister will resume his seat. Members on my left! The Manager of Opposition Business has the call, I presume on a point of order.

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

Yes, Mr Speaker, a point of order on direct relevance. I don't see how this is even a preamble to the question that was asked. The question was really specific. As a hint, the number is four. I'll leave it at that.

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

I say to the Minister for Communications that the Manager of Opposition Business has a reasonable point of order. There wasn't a preamble and, as I've made clear, the question is very specific. The minister has the call.

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

I am asked about the political appointments to the board of Australia Post: Bill Mansfield, assistant secretary of the ACTU, October 2008; Trish White, 16 years as a Labor MP in South Australia, appointed in July 2010; Peter Carne, appointed December 2009, law firm partner with former Labor state Premier Wayne Goss; businessman Talal Yassine, appointed in August 2012—

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

The Minister will resume his seat. I will just say to the minister: the question was very specific, as I've made clear before. These questions can be asked, and it's not an issue of whether it's reasonable enough for the minister to carry that information around with him, but there are other forms of the House where he can present that if he wishes to. So, whilst it was a very tight question, I call the minister, if he wishes to address the question in a way that's relevant to the question, otherwise he will need to resume his seat. Minister.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have got nothing to add to my answer.