Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General. Attorney, I refer to comments made by three of your colleagues in The Australiannewspaper last week which resulted in them being called before the Victorian Supreme Court to show course as to why they should not be charged with contempt. I also refer you to comments made by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who told 3AW:

… yes they are ministers in my government, they are Members of Parliament but they are also citizens of Victoria and residents of Victoria …

Attorney, can you confirm that your three colleagues' comments were not relevant to their ministerial portfolios, that they were not reflecting the government's position on sentencing in Victorian courts and that they were, therefore, speaking as private citizens, as the Prime Minister implied?