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. I refer to the article by Ms Niki Savva in today's Australian, which reveals the internal chaos and confusion around the Prime Minister's office briefing of the media on the $7 GP tax. Can the minister confirm that the Prime Minister did not know his own office had briefed the media that the GP tax was dead? Can the minister further confirm that the Prime Minister called him the next morning before the minister's radio interview to say that nothing had changed and that the briefings from the PMO were 'unauthorised'?

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

Mr President, when you have a lazy opposition, that is the sort of question that you get—purely based on media speculation. I can confirm for the Leader of the Opposition—

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr.

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

that on the morning before I went on that particular radio program to which she refers, the Prime Minister and I did not have a discussion.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that Liberal MP, Mr Ken Wyatt, was greeted with 'a spontaneous round of applause' in the government party room after complaining about the rude and arrogant attitude of the Prime Minister's office towards government MPs? Can the minister advise whether any of the Senate backbench join in this round of applause?

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

Mr Wyatt, the member for Hasluck, is an excellent member, does a wonderful job for his electorate and is always willing to speak his mind. In relation to the particular party room to which the senator refers, I did not happen to be there, but I have just checked with some colleagues behind me who confirm that Mr Wyatt did not say such words.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister confirm the foreign minister went 'bananas' at the Prime Minister after learning that she was to be chaperoned by Minister Robb at the UN climate conference? With the Defence minister frog-marching staff out the door, the foreign minister going bananas and the Prime Minister's office out of control, I ask the minister: is this what government looks like when the adults are back in charge? Merry Christmas, Senator Abetz.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President. I refer you to the rules for questions provided by previous president Hogg who said it was inappropriate for questions to contain ironic expressions, and so I would ask you to rule that question out of order.

Senator Wong interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, I really do not assistance on the point of order. Senator Bernardi, I think today of all days we will allow some irony, which has found its way into many questions over the year. I will say, Senator Wong, and I was going to say it before Senator Bernardi's point of order that the final supplementary is really stretching the limit of being related to the primary question. I will allow the minister to answer the parts he wishes to answer.

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

The problem for the senator is that the way she said 'Merry Christmas' absolutely exposed her insincerity. It also shows that when she said to Mr Rudd, 'You've got my full support,' her sincerity was just as great.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order.

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

Then when she later said to Julia Gillard, 'Merry Christmas, you've got my support,' it was simply as insincere as her attempt to send me good wishes. Mr President, I have tried to determine the technical meaning of 'going bananas', but I am sure it has something to do with Christmas goodwill and cheer, which I genuinely do extend to the Leader of the Opposition.