Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Reynolds, the Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister. Western Australian Nationals leader Mia Davies has said of newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Joyce's return:

I'm disappointed the party felt they needed to change leaders. I think it shows they're focused on internal matters instead of the people of regional Australia.

Is Ms Davies correct?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. This is fairly and squarely a matter for the National Party of Australia and not for government. But can I just say the Liberal-National party coalition has been an enduring one for seven decades and it will continue, and it will continue very strongly.

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

Senator O'Neill, a supplementary question?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Jess Price-Purnell, formerly a Nationals member, for 11 years, and former chairwoman of the New South Wales Nationals Women's Council, has said of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's return:

It's actually pretty devastating. There's only so many times you can bang your head up against a brick wall.

Is Ms Price-Purnell correct?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I just say again that that is a matter for the National Party. From all of us here who sit on this side of the parliament—

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

Order, Senator Reynolds! Senator O'Neill, on a point of order?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is the correct minister who is representing the Deputy Prime Minister: Senator Reynolds.

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

What is your point of order, Senator O'Neill?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If this is how she commences representing that minister—

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

Senator O'Neill, what is the point of order?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is that this is within the minister's remit—

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

Well, Senator O'Neill—

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and absolving herself of responsibility—

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

Senator O'Neill!

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

simply isn't appropriate.

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

Again, if I'm speaking I expect senators to be quiet. Senator O'Neill, firstly, you rose when the minister had been speaking for less than five seconds. It took me a while to get senators to be quiet. Senator O'Neill rose less than five seconds into the answer. With respect, I do not think, unless there's an egregious breach of standing orders, it is appropriate to try and assert the issue of relevance, which I assume you were trying to assert then. I'm listening carefully to the minister's answer. The minister is entitled to answer in a form she sees fit as long as she is directly relevant to the question. Senator Reynolds to continue.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll continue by saying that we have had an enduring partnership for seven decades, which has served Australia, particularly rural and regional Australia, very well. That will certainly continue. I join the Prime Minister and, I know, all colleagues on this side, in thanking Michael McCormack for his dedicated service as Deputy Prime Minister. Michael will continue to be an invaluable member of the National Party and also of our coalition. He was a passionate advocate for regional and rural communities, as the new leader and the National Party team will continue to be.

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

Senator O'Neill, a final supplementary question?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The deputy leader of the Victorian Nationals, Steph Ryan, has said:

I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I think Barnaby Joyce's previous actions didn't really make him eligible for the top job.

Which previous actions is Ms Ryan referring to? Does the minister agree with Ms Ryan?

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

I'm going to make a statement on this question before I call the minister. A minister can be asked about public statements that they themselves have made that are outside their portfolio or on matters relevant to the minister they represent. That particular second supplementary question refers to a quote claimed to be—I'm not disputing it—from a member of the state parliament in Victoria that doesn't directly link, in my view, to the minister that Senator Reynolds represents. The minister can answer it to the extent that she's able to, because it doesn't draw, in my view, to a matter here. Senator Wong, on the point of order?

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

On the point of order, Mr President, I simply make this point. This is a question to a person representing the Deputy Prime Minister. There's obviously a much broader remit when it comes to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister. It actually goes to the suitability of the person now occupying the job. If it is your ruling that that is not relevantly a matter to be addressed to the person representing him, we accept that. I would submit it is entirely reasonable for the opposition to put to the person representing the Deputy Prime Minister whether or not the Deputy Prime Minister is in fact suitable to retain that role.

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

I take your point, Senator Wong. I'm not ruling this out of order; I'm just pre-empting what I anticipate might be a point of order. If the question was phrased in the way that you put it, I would not make this observation. My badly hand-written notes here refer to a quote from a Victorian state member of parliament that doesn't ask for the minister or Deputy Prime Minister's view on the matter. It just simply asserts—it didn't use 'Does the minister agree,' did it? There was another part?

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

If I can assist—I understand you ruling in respect of which actions Ms Ryan is referring to. You may not have heard that Senator O'Neill went on to say, 'Does the minister agree with Ms Ryan?'

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

I heard the first part and I viewed the second part in the context of the first. I'll ask the minister to respond to the question if she deems it appropriate, given what I've just said. Senator Reynolds.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr President, for that clarification. I repeat that those are internal party matters for the National Party of Australia, not ones for this side. I welcome Barnaby Joyce to the role. Also, I very much look forward to working with him and representing him here in this chamber. I know that all the National Party members strongly support rural and regional Australia. As part of this coalition government, they have delivered time and time again for rural and regional Australia, in partnership with the Liberal Party, in coalition.