Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
2:09 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Prime Minister Morrison was sacked as Tourism Australia's managing director only a year and a half into his contract. The Howard government's Minister for Small Business and Tourism Fran Bailey has confirmed:
… it was a unanimous decision to get rid of Mr Morrison by the board and the minister.
I ask the minister: why was Prime Minister Morrison sacked as Tourism Australia's managing director?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
2:10 pm
Firstly, what I would say in relation to the ANAO report, which apparently was released in 2008, is it's very good that the Labor Party is coming in here with very current questions in relation to current reports!
Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
The point of order is relevance. The minister is answering an earlier question that he took on notice, not the question I asked him, which is: why was Prime Minister Morrison sacked?
Scott Ryan President
The minister has been speaking for 17 seconds. You have reminded him of the specific nature of your question. There are times when ministers can bring back information, but I will give him an opportunity to continue his answer because he has only been speaking for 17 seconds.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
What is very clear from that question is that, while we on this side of the chamber have been working for families around Australia to ensure they have the best possible opportunity to get ahead, Mr Shorten had his dirt unit in full swing, desperately clasping to find—
Senator Wong interjecting—
Let me just tell you something: Mr Morrison did a great job as a great advocate for the Australian tourism industry. He did a great job as immigration minister, when he fixed up the chaos at our borders which you created. He did a great job as social services minister, when he initiated and implemented welfare reform. He did a great job as Treasurer.
Opposition senators interjecting—
Derryn Hinch Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party
A point of order: it is only the first day back, but it is impossible to hear people back here.
Scott Ryan President
You're not the only one who can't hear the minister, Senator Hinch; hence I was trying to call people to order and to have some courtesy for their colleagues.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
The tourism industry across Australia knows what a strong advocate for the tourism sector Prime Minister Morrison is.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
The point of order is direct relevance. There was one question: why was he sacked as Tourism Australia's managing director? That is the only question, and he hasn't come close to it.
Scott Ryan President
Senator Cormann, I remind you of the terms of the question asked by Senator Collins.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
Clearly the Labor Party doesn't want to listen to the strong support of the Australian tourism sector for the Prime Minister's performance when it comes to promoting policies that actually advance and support jobs and opportunity in the tourism sector.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
It's direct relevance. One question: why was he sacked? He hasn't come close to it. I ask you to call the minister to return to the question.
Scott Ryan President
On the point of order, Senator Cormann: Senator Wong has reminded you of the terms of the question. You need to be directly relevant to the preface to the question or the specific part of the question that Senator Wong has quoted. I note, however, that was the end of the question and the minister is entitled to be directly relevant to any part of the question. I have called him to the question.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
I am being relevant to current circumstances. Senator Wong is—
Opposition senators interjecting—
Scott Ryan President
Order! Senator Wong, I have called the minister to the terms of the question, as you requested. He, I think, got six words out then before you rose to your feet. I am going to let him continue the sentence.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, even you could barely contain a smile. I don't think saying 'I'm relevant to current circumstances' is what the standing orders contemplate.
Scott Ryan President
I will let the minister complete a sentence before I rule. The minister needs to be directly relevant to part of the question asked.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
There is no stronger nor more effective advocate for the tourism sector than Prime Minister Morrison, who has, of course, got a great track record as an effective former immigration minister, former social services minister, and former Treasurer. (Time expired)
Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
2:14 pm
I'll try again. This morning, highly respected former Deputy Prime Minister and former Chair of Tourism Australia Tim Fischer indicated he is bound by a confidentiality agreement preventing him from saying why Scott Morrison was sacked. I ask again: why was Prime Minister Morrison sacked as Tourism Australia's managing director? Why doesn't the Prime Minister think Australians deserve to know why he was sacked?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
The Prime Minister is a very open and transparent person.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Scott Ryan President
Order on my left! Please resume your seat, Senator Cormann.
Senator Polley interjecting—
Senator Polley, while I'm speaking, please take a breath. Senator Hinch has already said he can't hear the minister. If I can't hear Senator Cormann, there is by far too much noise in this chamber.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
Thank you very much, Mr President. I'm not personally aware of the employment circumstances of more than a decade ago. What I am aware of is that Mr Morrison fixed up Labor's mess at the borders as immigration minister. He stopped the boats. He also implemented very important social welfare reform as Minister for Social Services. He also, of course, has presided over stronger growth and more jobs being created in his capacity at Treasurer.
Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
I remind the Senate again, the question is: why was Prime Minister Morrison sacked as director of Tourism Australia?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
On the point of order: I directly addressed that point by making the point that I wasn't personally aware of the employment circumstances of more than a decade ago, but I have provided further information in the context of the question asked.
Scott Ryan President
On the point of order: the minister is correct; he has noted that he is not aware of the circumstances. What I will say is that, under my reading of the standing orders, further information provided must also be directly relevant to the question or part of the question asked. I hasten to remind those asking questions that they only need to be directly relevant to part of the question asked, not all of it.
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
Thank you very much, Mr President. Of course, the question asked goes to the performance of the Prime Minister. Let me say again, the Prime Minister has been an outstanding performer when it comes to fixing up Labor's mess at our borders, has been an outstanding performer when it comes to initiating and implementing social welfare reform and has been an outstanding performer as Treasurer. The Australian people know that he is one of the strongest advocates there is for a stronger tourism sector across Australia. (Time expired)
Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
2:16 pm
Reports indicate that Prime Minister Morrison received a payout of more than $300,000 when he was sacked after only a year and a half as managing director of Tourism Australia. How much was Prime Minister Morrison paid when he was sacked as managing director of Tourism Australia, and why doesn't the Prime Minister think Australians deserve to know how much he was paid?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
2:17 pm
Again, the senator is asking questions about events, allegedly, that took place more than a decade and a half ago. I'm not personally aware of the employment circumstances at the time. What I do know is that Mr Morrison is highly regarded in the tourism sector as a very effective advocate and contributor to the tourism industry, just as he is highly regarded for his very effective contribution to delivering a stronger economy, more jobs and better opportunities for families around Australia to get ahead.
Labor clearly has made a decision to come into this chamber today with the outcomes of the latest dirt unit work in the last sitting fortnight. Labor clearly has run out of ideas. They're running their dirt units through ancient history because they haven't got any policy to talk about and because they're so embarrassed by the negative impact on the economy of their high-taxing, reckless agenda.