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

Thank you, Mr Terrorist—I mean Mr President! My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. In an article in Saturday's The Sydney Morning Herald entitled '"How about he rings?": PM's woman problem hits peak farce', it is revealed that, after meeting with South Australian senator Senator Gichuhi to discuss her experience of bullying and intimidation within the Liberal Party, Mr Morrison told Senator Gichuhi, 'Leave it with me.' What action has the Prime Minister taken since August to resolve Senator Gichuhi's concerns?

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

Having spent 44 hours inside an aircraft over the 87 hours between Thursday, 4.30 pm, and 7.30 this morning, I am not aware of the article that Senator Farrell is referencing. I'll take that question on notice.

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

Senator Farrell, a supplementary question.

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

Senator Gichuhi revealed—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order on my left! Senator Farrell—hold. Order on my left. Senator Farrell.

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

Senator Gichuhi revealed that three months after meeting Mr Morrison to discuss her experience of bullying and intimidation within the Liberal Party she hasn't 'heard anything back—nothing'. Why has Mr Morrison failed to respond to Senator Gichuhi's complaints of bullying and intimidation within the Liberal Party?

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

I've already taken the substantive issue on notice. I would say, as the Prime Minister has indicated publicly, that of course he's raised the broader issues with the Liberal Party organisation and in all of the state divisions. Again, this is of course an issue that needs to be handled carefully. It's not as if the Labor Party doesn't have its own internal issues in relation to some of these matters, including the former Labor candidate in Hasluck, who indicated publicly in July that, essentially, she's no longer the candidate because of bullying from various elements inside the Labor Party in Western Australia. I've taken the substantive question on notice and I'll get back to the chamber.

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

Senator Farrell, a final supplementary question.

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

Given that Mr Morrison has failed to respond to serious complaints of bullying and intimidation within the government, is it any wonder that he has already lost two seats to the crossbench?

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

I don't accept the premise of the question. As I've already indicated, I'll return to the chamber in due course.