Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister Cash. Did any of your female staff members advise you to not hire—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

There was a bit of discussion about the question list order. Can I ask you to commence again, Senator Waters; my apologies.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister Cash. Did any of your female staff members advise you not to hire or to rehire Andrew Hudgson or warn you in any way of his history of poor behaviour towards women?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for the question. The answer to the question is no.

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

Senator Waters, a supplementary question?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy if the minister needs to take that first question on notice to assure herself that that is, in fact, correct. But I shall persist. Did the minister at any time tell the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister's office of any concerns that may have been raised about Mr Hudgson and his attitude to women?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I recall, Mr Hudgson worked for me four years ago for a short period of time as an assistant media adviser, and the answer is again no.

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

Senator Waters, a final supplementary question?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Did Mr Hudgson work for you at any time when Ms Brittany Higgins or Ms Rachelle Miller also worked for you?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to Ms Higgins, no. In relation to Ms Rachelle Miller, there may have been a crossover of three or four weeks, but I would need to take advice on that because it was, as I said, around four years ago.