Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer to the various ongoing investigations into Michael Williamson, together with the member for Dobell, Craig Thomson, and the Health Services Union. Does the minister support the decision of Mr Williamson to tender his resignation as a national vice-president of the ALP?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Evans, you need to answer those parts that pertain to your portfolio.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I am not sure that any of it pertains to my portfolio or my duties representing the Prime Minister, but I do understand that there are at least two investigations into matters related to the Health Services Union, one being conducted by Fair Work Australia and one involving the police. I am not sure of their exact terms of reference, whether particular individuals are being investigated or whether it is a broader investigation into matters and allegations made in relation to the administration of the HSU. I am aware that those investigations are occurring, as is everyone who has read the newspapers in this country.

I also note that Mr Williamson has resigned his position as a vice-president of the Australian Labor Party nationally. That is obviously a decision for him. I note that that has been reported in today's paper, and that is all I know about the matter. I have read the reports that he has resigned, and that was obviously a decision for him.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Given that Mr Williamson believed that it was inappropriate for him to continue to serve as national vice-president of the ALP whilst facing investigation for receiving a secret commission, why does the Prime Minister see it as appropriate for Mr Thomson to continue to serve as an ALP member of parliament whilst he is facing the same investigation by Strike Force Carnarvon?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, again answer the part that applies to your portfolio.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, again I suspect that there is nothing relating to my portfolio relevant to the question. I point out to the parliament that the reasons Mr Williamson has resigned his position with the ALP are a question for him. I do not know the reasons he has done that. The suggestions that Senator Ronaldson put forward are, as far as I know, of his own making. I would point out though—

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order. Given that the Prime Minister has expressed a very strong opinion in relation to Mr Thomson's continuation, I think this question is absolutely relevant to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, and I ask him to return to the question.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig, I have ruled that there is no point of order and I have already drawn the minister's attention to the fact that he needs to answer that part of the question that relates to his representational portfolio or his portfolio.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I made the point in relation to the first part of the question that those issues are ones for Mr Williamson and that the reasons for his decision are for him to explain. But, in terms of Mr Thomson—and I have made this point previously in this chamber—Mr Thomson is entitled to the presumption of innocence. He is entitled to await the result of any investigations. I urge the senators opposite to again commit themselves to that principle about the presumption of innocence. (Time expired)

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I refer the minister to comments made by the HSU's Kathy Jackson on Lateline, where she said:

I think that this is another Sussex Street special where they think they can disaffiliate and then, once all this heat is off the Government, the Sussex Street boys will … have the union going back into the ALP.

Aren't the disaffiliation of the HSU from the ALP and Michael Williamson's subsequent resignation as party VP simply a Sussex Street smokescreen designed only to protect this government?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have to rule that out of order. I cannot accept that that is within the standing orders. I cannot. In the other parts of the question I could see that there might be parts relevant to the minister's portfolio. That part I cannot see the relevance of.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have ruled it out of order.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, in the quote, there was a direct reference to taking heat off the government. If you are saying that a matter that relates to the government cannot be relevant to the person who represents the Prime Minister in this place, we will have come to a very sorry pass. I invite you, Mr President, to reconsider your ruling.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: Robin Hood does not have a longer bow than that grasped by the opposition. The ruling that you made was absolutely correct. There was nothing within that question that came remotely close to the minister's portfolio, and to rely on that sliver in context is completely out of order. Your ruling is correct, Mr President.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am going to stick with my ruling. I will review the matter post question time and, if there is a need to come back to the chamber, I will.