Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Can the minister advise the Senate which of the Prime Minister's staff briefed members of the media last week that the Abbott government's $7 GP tax was 'shelved'? Why wasn't the Prime Minister told?

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

I cannot confirm the assertion made in Senator Wong's question in any way, shape or form. It is media speculation upon speculation which now forms the basis of Senator Wong's thoroughly researched question. I have no comment to make on media speculation. To suggest that it emanated from the Prime Minister's office is, of course, speculation upon speculation.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate which of the Prime Minister's staff briefed out that the new head of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Thawley, has been tasked with rethinking the government's overarching economic strategy?

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

For those who read Hansard, I would simply say, 'Read answer above.'

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that the Prime Minister's office did not advise the Treasurer nor his office before briefing out either of these stories to the national media?

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

Once again, I indicate—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Once again, Senator Wong cannot contain herself. It is interjections nonstop from this Leader of the Opposition in the Senate during question time, especially when her questions are based on such a flawed premise. I indicate that the whole premise of her question is rejected. For the opposition to base their question time strategy on media speculation is indicative of the paucity of their policy platform. All they can do is whinge. All they can do is whine, as we saw Mr Shorten do at the Press Club last week. It was a real 'dine and whine'. All dinner there was whining and not a single answer to the issues confronting this nation, including the budgetary mess that, as finance minister, Senator Wong left us. (Time expired)