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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. On at least 18 occasions Mr Morrison has refused to answer questions from the media and in the parliament about whether he tried to get Mr Brian Houston invited to an event hosted by President Trump at the White House. Why?

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

I believe those issues have been extensively canvassed in estimates and elsewhere and I don't have anything to add.

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

Senator Wong, a supplementary question?

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

Mr Morrison cited national security as a basis for not answering questions from the Senate about the seeking of this invitation. At the time he sought the invitation, was the Prime Minister aware of allegations that Mr Brian Houston concealed child sex offences committed by his father?

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

Not to my knowledge.

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

Senator Wong, a final supplementary question?

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

When did Mr Morrison last communicate with Mr Brian Houston? Did Mr Morrison or any of his ministers have any contact with Mr Houston about his recent exemption enabling him to travel overseas?

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

To my knowledge and understanding, that exemption was assessed against the defined criteria by the Australian Border Force through the Home Affairs processes.