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

My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate representing the Prime Minister. I refer the minister to an interview by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr, with Leon Compton on ABC Radio in Hobart yesterday morning where the minister on two occasions, when asked specifically to do so, refused to support the government's proposed media reforms. I also refer the minister to reports this morning by the journalists Peter Hartcher and Mark Kenny that Senator Bob Carr has told people overseas that he has lost confidence in the Prime Minister and that the minister for aged care, Mr Mark Butler, has also lost confidence in the Prime Minister. Does the fact that two senior members of the cabinet refused to publicly express their confidence in the Prime Minister, and that one of the most senior ministers in the government, Senator Bob Carr, has said that that is because of the media package, inevitably mean that the Prime Minister presides over a divided and dysfunctional government?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Twenty-four hours and that was the best you can come up with? Twenty-four hours to come up with a policy, talk about the National Broadband Network, talk even about media policy—at least for the last few days you have been on the media policy; you have actually been on policy. But, Mr President, those opposite are dredging the bottom of the barrel. We have already seen this morning a press conference—through you, Mr President, I draw your attention, Senator Brandis, to the press conference—that the foreign affairs minister held in New York or, I think, Washington. He is on his way to New York now. In Washington he came on the ABC and he said the report was completely untrue.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Conroy, just resume your seat. Order! Senator Conroy, continue.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can draw you to the transcripts or we could possibly let you see it on iView—that is able to be seen on computers, Senator Heffernan; it is called IPTV. Senator Carr could not have been more categorical when he said, 'The journalists never even attempted to contact my office.' He had spoken to his office and they had never even attempted to contact the office, to paraphrase what Senator Carr said, but reasonably accurately. And we have seen this morning Mr Butler tweet that it is also untrue.

Those opposite have got no substance. They are policy free and they are stooping to the bottom of the barrel because they have no care for the vision for this country. They do not care about childcare workers. They do not care about textile workers. They do not care about transport workers. They have opposed every single reform in these areas to improve the life of working people in this country. They have absolutely demonstrated with that question— (Time expired)

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

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Are Senator Bob Carr's emphatic denials of the story in his press conference this morning and pledges of unending loyalty to the Prime Minister any more credible than Ms Gillard's pledges three years ago of full confidence in and unending loyalty to Mr Kevin Rudd?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite have an hour in question time; probably half a dozen questions they get the chance to ask the government, hold it to account, ask probing questions about policy. They could ask about how strong the economy is; they could ask about the strength of our education system; they could ask about what is going on in sport or about childcare workers—not a question. Into sleaze: it hasn't taken long for those opposite. Perhaps you all should be made to wear blue ties like Mr Abbott and then you would get the message you are on the policy framework. Let Senator Sinodinos ask a question, because I know that he will actually put some thought into it, as one of the few economically literate members opposite. He may have to get clearance for the question first, but he would ask an intelligent question, I am confident of it. (Time expired)

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

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Can the Leader of the Government in the Senate give to the Senate a clear and unequivocal assurance that the Prime Minister enjoys the full confidence and support of every minister?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The leadership issue was dealt with. Let me be very clear: the Prime Minister won an overwhelming, in fact a record, mandate—a record mandate. Those opposite have now wasted—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Conroy, resume your seat. When there is silence on both sides we will proceed. Senator Conroy.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. Those opposite have now wasted nearly 10 minutes of question time on sleaze. They want to try and muddy up the reputation of front benchers and ministers in this government. Why don't you try asking one of the ministers a question about policy? They are all here in a line for you. Why don't you ask about some policy? Ask about media policy.

Honourable senators interjecting —

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

I will give the call to you, Senator Brandis, when there is silence on both sides. Senator Brandis.

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

Mr President, on a point of order: it is hardly sleazy to ask whether the Prime Minister of Australia enjoys the confidence of her own caucus. The question was very simple: can the minister who does lead the government in this place give to the Senate a full and unequivocal assurance that the Prime Minister enjoys the confidence of all her ministers? The fact that he has exhausted almost all of his time in failing to give that assurance is itself revealing, but I do ask you to draw him to the question.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: again this is utter rubbish. The opposition has been clearly given that assurance.

Honourable senators interjecting —

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

Order on both sides! There is no point of order. The minister is answering the question. The minister has nine seconds remaining if the minister has anything further to add.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can assure those opposite that the Prime Minister enjoys the overwhelming support of the caucus, as she showed—overwhelming support. (Time expired)