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 Brandis. The minister yesterday told the Senate that 'flirting with One Nation is poison for my side of politics'. Why then did the Prime Minister fail to follow former Prime Minister Howard's lead and prevent the LNP from preferencing One Nation in 49 seats at Saturday's election?

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

Senator Wong, what a champion of chutzpah you are—for a question like that to come from you, of all people, Senator Wong, whose government apparently has been re-elected in Queensland on One Nation preferences. Let that never be forgotten, Mr President. There's one reason, and one reason only, that it appears that the government of Annastacia Palaszczuk have been re-elected in Queensland, and that is that they took a number of seats in metropolitan Brisbane from the LNP by receiving One Nation preferences.

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

Point of order: I know Senator Brandis is very upset about the result, but my question related to preferences and the decision of his party to preference One Nation in 49 seats. Why did the Prime Minister not prevent that?

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, I can't direct the minister how to answer the question. I remind him, as Senator Wong just did, of the question itself. The minister has a minute and 14 seconds remaining.

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

Senator Wong, for someone who is in government in Queensland today through One Nation preferences, I think you are the last person to be asking that question. In particular, as I pointed out to you yesterday, Senator Wong, it's all very well what your public position may have been, but what the position of your booth workers was throughout Queensland was to whisper into the ears of voters, 'Put the LNP last; vote One Nation before you vote LNP.' That's what they said.

In relation to preferences, no deals were done. No deals were done between the LNP and the One Nation party. They shouldn't have been and they weren't. In relation to the events of 1998, which you appear to be referencing, Senator Wong, I was a member of the Liberal Party executive in 1998, and I can tell you that the historical observation you've made is inaccurate.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, on a supplementary question.

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

The LNP member for Dawson, Mr Christensen, has apologised to One Nation voters following the LNP's disastrous performance in the Queensland election. Does the Prime Minister agree the LNP needs to be more like One Nation?

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

Well, Senator Wong, no, he does not. And as you perfectly well know if you had seen his observations yesterday—which, of course, you did—he is of the opposite view. He is of the opposite view. And, Senator Wong, I think it shames you, if I may say so. I think it really shames you, Senator Wong, that you would make that insinuation against the Prime Minister, of all people, whose views on this matter could not be more clear.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Final supplementary question, Senator Wong.

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

If the Prime Minister's views are so clear, will he learn the lessons of Western Australia and Queensland, show some leadership and make a decision to put One Nation last federally?

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

The Prime Minister has shown very clear and very strong leadership on the question of One Nation and the question of One Nation preferences, and you will find, Senator Wong, that on this view the Prime Minister's views and mine are identical.