Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Communications. Minister, yesterday on ABC radio you disassociated politicians from the government's misinformation and disinformation bill by claiming that truth in political advertising is a matter for the AEC. However, we all know that the AEC has no jurisdiction over the honesty of political parties, politicians and political candidates. Will you now admit your statement yesterday was misleading, correct the record and commit to properly regulate truth in political advertising?

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

The Leader of the House on a point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While the question about the role of the AEC is certainly a question that it's in order to ask—I'm not disputing that—it's being asked to a minister who has no responsibility for that agency, simply because the minister referred to it in a radio interview. Ordinarily, it would have to be redirected to the appropriate minister.

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

It may assist the House if the member could rephrase the question, because the minister is obviously not responsible for the Australian Electoral Commission. It's regarding her remarks. I'll give the member the opportunity to rephrase the question to assist the House.

Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, yesterday on ABC radio you disassociated politicians from the government's misinformation and disinformation bill by claiming that truth in political advertising would not be covered by that bill. However, we all know that the AEC has no jurisdiction over the honesty of political parties, politicians and political candidates. So will you now admit that your statement about the exclusions from your misinformation and disinformation bill was misleading, and will you correct the record and commit to properly regulating truth in political advertising?

Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In my capacity representing the Special Minister of State, I thank the member for his question. The growth in mis- and disinformation is widespread. It's not only on our shores but occurring in democracies around the world. Elections and referenda are a contest of ideas. However, the truth must be at the core. Last year, the Special Minister of State wrote to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and asked—

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

Order! The minister will pause. The member for Clark on a point of order?

Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, on relevance: the essence of the question clearly goes to the Minister for Communications misleading the Australian community in the media yesterday.

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

The minister is being relevant to the question, and under the standing orders she's entitled to answer it.

Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying to the member. last year the Special Minister of State wrote to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and asked that it inquire into the 2022 federal election and related matters, including the potential for truth-in-political-advertising—

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

Mr Speaker, on the point of order, I have a question to you. As I understand the member for Clark's question, he is referring to comments made by the Minister for Communications, and he's asking for a response and clarification in relation to the comments made by the Minister for Communications, which is why the question is properly put to her.

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

The Leader of the House?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Mr Speaker. If the—

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

Order, the Leader of the Opposition! We're just going to deal with this matter in a courteous way.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For any question to be asked in the House, it has to be to a minister, relating to their ministerial responsibilities. So the only way the question can be in order is for it to be answered by the minister who is representing the minister who has responsibility for the AEC. Page 549 of Practice makes it clear:

If a question has been addressed to the incorrect Minister, the responsible Minister may answer—

which is exactly what's happening.

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

I did give the opportunity for the member, because of the subject content, to rephrase the question. He chose not to do that. The subject matter, because of the question—if he'd rephrased it just to the minister's interview or given the date, it wasn't—

Honourable members interjecting—

Well, I gave him the opportunity. He chose not to do that, so we'll just continue under the standing orders and the Practice for that to occur.

Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did reword the question.

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

Yes, but the question contained information about the Australian Electoral Commission. Under the standing orders and under the Practice, the way the question was phrased means the minister has the responsibility, and I'll just get her to conclude her answer.

Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Speaker. Last year the Special Minister of State wrote—

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The minister will pause. I'll deal with one moment at a time. If someone's used unparliamentary language, I'll ask them to withdraw. I didn't hear what was happening, but anyway I'll deal with—

Order! The member for La Trobe and the member for McEwen will cease interjecting. The Leader of the Opposition is on his feet on a point of order.

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

Mr Speaker, I think in the circumstances it would be appropriate, if I might say so, to ask the member for Clark now that he understands your point, because I don't think it was clear. To be fair, I don't think it was clear in the first instance. If, in the redrafting of his question, he doesn't make specific reference to the AEC, I don't see how the question couldn't be in order.

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

I've explained the situation. I've explained the opportunity I gave to the member for Clark. I'll discuss it with him after question time to make sure he's crystal clear on the standing orders and the Practice moving forward. I'm just going to ask the minister to conclude her answer.

Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last year the Special Minister of State wrote to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and asked that it inquire into the 2022 federal election and related matters, including the potential for truth-in-political-advertising laws to enhance the integrity and transparency of the electoral system. Of course—

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

Order! The minister will pause. The member for Clark?

Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the government is attempting a cover-up, and I ask—

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

Resume your seat. I will just ask the minister to conclude her answer.

Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, the government will consider the recommendations and changes put forward by JSCEM in its final report. We welcome that report when it does come.