Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to his previous answer. Can the Prime Minister confirm that he has never actually told this House whether he asked his staff if they sought to undermine Brittany Higgins' loved ones? Prime Minister, is it true your staff sought to undermine Ms Higgins' loved ones, and have you asked?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting —

Ms Swanson interjecting —

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

Members on my left. Member for Isaacs and member for Paterson. I'm trying to find out without members bellowing interjections. That's a very good question. Is the Leader of the House rising on a point of order?

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

I am, yes. This question can be dressed up in whatever way it likes, but the fact is that the question has been asked and it has been fully answered—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left.

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

The Prime Minister has provided the response to the question. It should be ruled out of order.

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

I say to those opposite, I am much harsher on interjections when I am trying to hear a point of order. The Manager of Opposition Business.

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

Thanks, Mr Speaker. To the point the Leader of the House raised, the question has not been fully answered. In fact, the question specifically asks the Prime Minister whether he has asked his staff whether or not this occurred. The Prime Minister continually refers back to a statement he made last week. That statement does not contain the answer to this question. This question has not been answered.

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

There are two issues I will state in ruling on this. In terms of the question already being asked—and I've been through this before when members on both sides have challenged me, depending on where the question has come from of course—it would need to be absolutely identical and it's not. It does have another element in it anyway. But on the first hurdle it's in order because it's not absolutely identical. They have certainly all been on the same topic but sufficiently different to enable them to be within the standing orders. So the question is in order. I call the Prime Minister.

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

I have no information to suggest that that is the case.