George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on the point of order. There are two points I wish to make. First of all, under standing order 72, the question must relate to public affairs. There are a series of prohibitions in standing order 73 and none of those prohibitions would prohibit the asking of this question. The second point is that it has always been the case, both in this chamber and in the House of Representatives, that questions bearing upon a minister's fitness to hold his ministerial office are permitted. This question goes directly to whether or not Senator Arbib was, as a minister, party to a cover-up or an attempted cover-up con­cerning the affairs of Mr Thomson, the member for Dobell. I can understand why the Labor Party want to cover it up. I can understand why the Labor Party want to prevent the Senate inquiry into it. The fact is that because it goes directly to the minister's fitness for office, it is entirely within standing orders.