Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to ministers Bishop, Turnbull, Pyne, McFarlane and Cormann, who have ruled out leaking a cabinet discussion about proposed citizenship changes. Was the Attorney-General the source of the leak?

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

Thank you, Senator McAllister. That is the first occasion that I have had the pleasure of answering a question from you. I have never been asked that question before, so this gives me the opportunity to place on the record the fact that it was not me.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order on my left. You have a colleague waiting to ask a question.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. What inquiries has the Prime Minister or his department undertaken to determine the source of the cabinet leak, and when was the leak referred to the Australian Federal Police?

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

The processes whereby the government deals with these matter are internal to it. The matter is being dealt with within the processes of the government.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Who in the Prime Minister's office provided details to the media about proposed changes to citizenship laws, before the cabinet meeting, both pre-empting the outcome of the meeting and disclosing a cabinet agenda item? When was this unauthorised disclosure referred to the Australian Federal Police?

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

I saw a press report, which I assume is the one to which you are referring. The premise of your question—that the source of that information came from the Prime Minister's office—I am quite sure is wrong.