Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Birmingham. The minister yesterday refused to confirm whether the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction would submit to an interview by the special strike force, Strike Force Garrad, established by the New South Wales police's State Crime Command's Financial Crime Squad to investigate his possible criminal behaviour. I ask the minister, will Minister Taylor submit to an interview with Strike Force Garrad: yes or no?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not what I said to the chamber yesterday. I said very clearly that the minister has indicated, and the government has indicated, that we will cooperate, the minister will cooperate and his office will cooperate with the investigation.

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

Senator Watt, a supplementary question?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister yesterday undertook to update the Senate if the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction or anyone in his office had spoken to the New South Wales police. Has Minister Taylor or anyone in his office been interviewed by police? Can the minister guarantee that all current and former staff of Minister Taylor will be made available for interview and that all office material will be securely archived in light of the investigation?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have reflected on the question that was asked by the opposition yesterday. The opposition have asked for this inquiry and this investigation. The opposition have sought it, allegedly seeking an independent inquiry and investigation into this matter. Out of respect for an independent inquiry and investigation into this matter, I don't intend to come into this chamber and seek to provide a running commentary in relation to this investigation. The government has been clear there will be full cooperation with this inquiry and investigation. If there are questions in relation to the conduct of that inquiry and investigation, those questions ought to be directed to the New South Wales police.

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

Senator Watt, a final supplementary question?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note the minister's evasions of these questions. Can the minister guarantee that all current and former staff of Minister Taylor will be made available for interview and that all office material will be securely archived in light of the investigation? Just guarantee it.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, it's a good thing the Speaker of the Queensland parliament has already left and couldn't see the lack of agility from Senator Watt in relation to that question that he still read, despite the fact that question was clearly dealt with in the previous answer. Those opposite want to run a kangaroo court—

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

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

Mr President, this is about whether staff—who are actually the Prime Minister's staff, because all staff are the Prime Minister's staff—will be made available for the New South Wales police? The minister has evaded it once. I think the chamber's entitled to an answer.

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

On the point of order, Senator Cormann.

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

On the point of order, not only was the minister directly relevant, he actually directly answered the question. He absolutely directly answered the question. As much as the Labor Party might think it's a matter for Labor not only to write letters and initiate investigations but also to conduct these investigations, the minister is not in a position to provide a running commentary in relation to the conduct of an independent law enforcement investigation. The point of order that Senator Wong raised should be dismissed.

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

It is not for the chair to rule on the content of answers as long as they are directly relevant. It is not for me to instruct the minister how to answer a question. There is an opportunity after question time for debating answers. The minister is being directly relevant, even if it is not the preferred mode of answer of those asking it. Senator Birmingham to continue.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government could not have been clearer about the full cooperation that will be provided to this investigation. But those opposite, who asked for this investigation, now seem to be doing everything possible to try to undermine or corrupt the investigation, rather than letting it run as an independent investigation. You don't like it, do you, Senator Wong?

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

Order! 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

That is an inappropriate inference. We are not trying to influence the investigation. We're asking whether you will make your staff available, because we remember what Minister Cash did.

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

Senator Cormann, I will take a submission from you on the point of order.

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

Again, Senator Wong is not raising a valid point of order; she is raising a debating point. Very clearly, the Labor Party think that not only should they be initiating a politically motivated investigation, they should also be conducting it and providing judgement.

Senator Wong interjecting—

This is a kangaroo court and a witch-hunt, if ever I've seen one.

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

Order, Senator Cormann and Senator Wong. Senators Cormann and Wong, please resume your seats.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Really? At the centre table? Senators Cormann and Wong, order! It is not for the chair to be ruling on the content of answers nor instructing ministers how to answer them, and points of order are not supposed to be debating points. Senator Birmingham to continue.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has been clear: we will cooperate.

Senator Wong interjecting—

We will cooperate, Senator Wong. We will cooperate throughout this investigation. You don't like the fact that we say we'll cooperate and that it's now an independent investigation, because you know what your track record is from independent investigations, initiated by Mr Dreyfus: eight-zip!

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

Order, Senator Birmingham! Time for the answer has expired. Senator Cormann.

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

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.