James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

We know there was. So, by not answering these questions, you're not just lying to us; you're lying to yourselves. We want you to be better. We want you to be proud, to spend taxpayers' money and do a good job. We know you won't. We know you're terrible. But at least try and answer these questions.

Question No. 4:

Can copies of any correspondence between any Minister's office and the Prime Minister's office about this meeting, including but not limited to email, instant messages (for example text messages, WhatsApp, etc.) or by letter be provided.

Apparently not. Apparently, there is only one photocopier in the Prime Minister's office, and that's on the blink because they're waiting for Terry or someone from Canon to come and fix it up. This is the issue: the printers aren't working. They need to put a password in or something like that. They can't print these things off. The photocopier's not working, and they don't trust Richard Marles to borrow his photocopier or anything like that—they certainly won't trust a senator—so they're in trouble.

An opposition senator: They're not asking Tanya Plibersek?

They're not going to ask Minister Plibersek either. What is going on in the Prime Minister's office? What are they doing in there? Having an afternoon tea probably right about now!

Question 5:

Can a copy of any correspondence or briefing notes from the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet or any other Department about this meeting, including but not limited to email, instant messages (for example text messages, WhatsApp, etc.) or by letter be provided.

Apparently not. It's a no. There's no answer whatsoever. It's sort of like that awkward silence. They're frightened people are going to talk to them. They've got a personality disorder and they're just going to go and stand at the corner and stare at the wall.

We are facing, in politics in Australia, a Prime Minister's office who does not want to engage with taxpayers. They do not engage with this chamber. They do not want to engage with being honest, transparent and accountable. That is the lesson here, fellow senators: we've got a Prime Minister's office who, quite frankly, don't care about this chamber. They do not care about accountability. We've got a government here who do not care about us. Estimates is going to be interesting; get lots of coffee for that!