Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Did the minister or any of his staff raise with the secretary or any other senior official in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science the appointment of Deputy Prime Minister Joyce's former media adviser to a departmental role?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not to my knowledge.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron, a supplementary question.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Did the minister or any of his staff raise with the secretary or any other senior officials in any other department the appointment of Deputy Prime Minister Joyce's former media adviser to a departmental role?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, not to my knowledge.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong?

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

Mr President, that's the second occasion on which the minister is saying he doesn't know. We'd like him to take it on notice. Well, we think this matter goes to a matter of—

Zed Seselja (ACT, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You don't get to direct him; you can do it in the supplementary.

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

Well, I'm asking that and, if he refuses, that will be plain.

Government senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! Can I hear Senator Wong? Can I hear Senator Wong before I rule? Senator Wong.

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

I'm requesting that the minister take it on notice.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Okay. Senator Wong, that is not a point—Senator Cormann?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just on the point of order make the point that the question was asked and the minister answered the question. The minister answered the question as he was able to answer it, so there's no point of order.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! I asked for order on my right. Senator Collins, please resume your seat. On my left: I asked for order on my right so I could hear Senator Wong. I'm going to ask you to return the courtesy to Senator Cormann. Senator Collins, I'm prepared to rule on this. Senator Wong did not raise a point order. I cannot instruct the minister how to answer the question. There is an opportunity in this chamber to ask questions. The minister was relevant to the question. That is the limit of my authority. Senator Cameron, do you have a final supplementary question?

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I certainly do. Can the minister guarantee to the Senate that no-one approached Geoscience Australia to secure a job for Deputy Prime Minister Joyce's former media adviser?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again, I have no knowledge of those matters.