Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Sensitive communications between Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, in relation to Prime Minister Morrison's decision to overturn bipartisan foreign policy have been leaked to the media. What steps will the government take to investigate the source of this leak?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I've indicated to the chamber before when I have addressed these questions, Senator Payne, as the foreign minister, has had very positive and constructive discussions with her counterpart. I'm not aware—

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

Order, Senator Cormann! Senator Wong, on a point of order?

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

Direct relevance. I understand the leader of the government was seeking to get a brief as the question was being asked, but the question actually goes to the leaking of an ASIO document, which has been reported in the papers.

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

I note that the minister has been speaking for 22 seconds. You've reminded him of the nature of the question. The minister has one minute and 38 seconds remaining to answer. Senator Cormann.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My advice is that we are very confident that this is not a leak from within government.

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

Senator O'Neill, a supplementary question.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just for clarification, there is an ASIO bulletin reportedly marked 'Secret—Australian eyes only' which relates to the Prime Minister's decision to overturn longstanding, bipartisan foreign policy and which has been leaked to the media. My question to the minister is: what steps will the government take to investigate the source of this leak?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Consistent with what the Prime Minister advised the House of Representatives earlier, I can advise the Senate that the Director-General of Security and head of ASIO, Duncan Lewis, has advised the Prime Minister that, at this time, there is no evidence of planned violence in response to the government's announcement regarding the location of the Australian Embassy in Israel; that ASIO as a matter of routine provides advice to Commonwealth and state governments on security matters, as it should; and that the director-general has advised the Prime Minister that he has spoken with the Federal Police commissioner and will formally refer this matter to the AFP for investigation. The government does not comment on the contents of security advice and intelligence matters. On behalf of the Prime Minister, I want to repeat, and reassure Australians, that ASIO has no evidence at this time of any planned violence in response to the government's announcement on 16 October.

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

Senator O'Neill, a final supplementary.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since Mr Morrison became Prime Minister, the government has faced a number of internal leaks, including multiple unannounced policies of former Prime Minister Turnbull, the religious freedom report, sensitive communications between the Australian and Indonesian foreign affairs ministers and an ASIO bulletin reportedly marked 'Secret—AUSTEO'. Is this what the Prime Minister means when he says, 'A vote for the Liberals in Wentworth is a vote for stability'?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, a vote for Dave Sharma and the Liberals in Wentworth is a vote for stability, because it will help to deliver a continuation of good economic management, good budget management and a continuation of a government implementing a plan for the economy and jobs, which has delivered record employment across Australia. More people are in jobs in Australia today than ever before, and more women are in jobs today than ever before. Indeed, the proportion of working-age Australians on welfare is the lowest it has been in 20 years. That is because, as we have created more jobs and better opportunities for families around Australia to get ahead, more people have been able to get off welfare and into a job, and surely that is something the senator should be supporting, and it's a great demonstration of the successful economic and fiscal policies of this government.