Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

I'll take that question on notice too, but let me repeat this point. I think Senator Wong is getting into very dangerous territory here. The implication of her question is that because a statement is made by an individual in a court proceeding, somehow that becomes established fact. That is not the case.

Senator Jacinta Collins interjecting—

Senator Collins has just reflected on Senator Cash in an inappropriate fashion. It is of course established fact also that Senator Cash will be appearing as a subpoenaed witness in that same court on Friday. The proposition that the executive government should be providing a running commentary of statements by individual witnesses is completely inappropriate. Like all relevant ministers, both stand by the statements they've made on the public record, and the Prime Minister has full confidence in his ministers.