Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. What are the consequences of a minister in the Prime Minister's government breaching the Prime Minister's ministerial code of conduct?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's from the guy responsible for Leppington Triangle! That's the problem they've got here: when it comes to integrity—

Opposition Member:

An opposition member interjecting

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So let's compare the issues here; let's compare them, because the member for Eden-Monaro—the returned member for Eden-Monaro, the hero of the Eden-Monaro by-election, who was re-elected with the support of over 60 per cent of the people of Eden-Monaro—has sold the shares that were available. She was a holder of shares. She inadvertently gave them to her husband. If you want to get into families, we'll go down that track—but we shouldn't; we haven't in the past—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. I'll ask the Prime Minister to pause for a moment. I call the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has been asked very clear and concise questions. He has wriggled his way through question time today and—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's the point of order?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

refused to answer the questions. He cannot answer a straight question. The question is very clear, and the Prime Minister again is refusing to provide a straight answer.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat. Thank you for the point of order. I call the Prime Minister and refer to the question regarding the consequences.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What has occurred here is that the minister was made aware of the situation. She acted immediately—immediately—to address the circumstances. And that stands in stark contrast to the behaviour of those opposite. She has been transparent the whole way through—the whole way through. And I completely stand by the minister for regional development and local government. She is doing a fantastic job of representing the people of Eden-Monaro and, what's more, she's doing a fantastic job of turning up and doing her job as she did last Thursday and Friday, engaging with people in the community and particularly engaging with people in local government. The minister has been upfront about her situation at all times. There has been no conflict of interest whatsoever, no blind trust set up to pay legal fees, no bodgie activity such as that which characterised those opposite. That is why there hasn't been any conflict of interest and there hasn't been any cover-up. The situation was rectified at the earliest possible opportunity, which is an entirely appropriate way for a government of integrity to act.