Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Why won't the Prime Minister establish an independent inquiry into the sexual assault allegations against his Attorney-General, which would consider the alleged victim's own words and the testimony of James Hooke and others?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was one rule of law for every single Australian in this country.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite may jeer about that. They may heckle about that, but this is a fundamental principle. Every single Australian faces the same law as any other Australian. I've heard the arguments that have been put by others as to why there may be an inquiry here, referring to the Heydon case. That case related to a workplace matter regarding a justice while they were in that job, and it related to a workplace issue that hadn't been considered by the police. So there is no parallel between that situation and the alleged actions of something that occurred over 30 years ago.

If those opposite believe that allegations that have been closed by police should be the subject of extrajudicial inquiries, then I am puzzled as to why they have never suggested that one be made against one of their own members of their own front bench. I am puzzled about that and I am puzzled about the double standard. The government at the time sought no such inquiry in relation to those matters—

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for McEwen and member for Isaacs!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and nor did the opposition suggest one. But that individual indeed put himself forward to be the Prime Minister of this country on two occasions, and I stand by the words of the then Prime Minister Abbott when he dealt rightly with that issue at that time. So those opposite may want to suggest that there should be one rule of law for one Australian and a different rule of law for another and that trial by media should be the way that this country should operate.

The Attorney-General has announced that, in private capacity, he is pursuing a defamation action against those that have raised those issues. That matter will be considered where it should, in a court of law. The arguments will be made, the evidence will be presented and that matter can be rightly addressed through our courts, where it should be. That is the approach which I think best addresses the matter.