Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] My question is to the Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister, Senator McKenzie. When asked about Mr Christensen's disinformation, Mr Morrison's Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, said: 'If you start prodding the bear, you're going to make the situation worse for us as a government, not better.' What does Mr Morrison's Deputy Prime Minister mean?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. I listened to Barnaby Joyce's interview, as so many Australians did, on RN yesterday, where this question was canvassed, and he was very clear that he does not go to Mr Christensen for advice on how to protect his family and his community around COVID and he does not agree with George Christensen's views on lockdowns, masks and other things. But what he does do is absolutely support Mr Christensen's right, as a citizen of a free country and as a community member, to have an opinion and to express it.

We've seen numerous times in this place individuals take to Facebook, take to public platforms, to express views which we don't agree with, whether it's supporting criminals, like those to my right, the Greens—

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

Mr President, direct relevance. Senator Ayres's question was to ask the person who represents Mr Joyce in this chamber what he meant by 'If you start prodding the bear, you're going to make the situation worse for us as a government'.

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

On the point of order, it is quite a broad question, but in my view it does need to be restricted to meanings or potential meanings or imputations of that particular comment, rather than observations on others, to be directly relevant. But it is very broad, I must say, in that sense. I call Senator McKenzie to continue.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. As I was saying, people in this place on their Facebook pages, on the floor of this chamber and in public—

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

Order! Senator Wong, on a point of order? I can probably guess it.

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

Mr President, the minister can't just ignore your ruling.

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

I'm going to ask, Senator McKenzie—I did say that I didn't think observations on others were in order when the question was 'What does the Deputy Prime Minister mean?' That is a broad question, but I do believe that it needs to be limited to meanings, potential meanings or otherwise of that statement, rather than observations upon others. Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I could paraphrase what I think the Deputy Prime Minister was talking about, he was reflecting on Mr Christensen's comments in the chamber and clearly articulating that he didn't support them, that he supported following the medical advice. He himself is also following the health advice right now, as he is in lockdown in Armidale, New South Wales, as a result of a state health order in that state. Barnaby Joyce, the Deputy Prime Minister, has clarified those comments. He doesn't agree with George Christensen, but he agrees with his right to say it. (Time expired)

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

Senator Ayres, a supplementary question?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] The Deputy Prime Minister has also said: 'I'll say that to my colleagues, I can assure you that when you've got a thin margin, don't start giving reasons for a by-election.' Did Mr Morrison's Deputy Prime Minister give that advice to the Prime Minister?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm obviously not privy to every conversation that the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister have, and nor should I be, so I'll have to take that on notice.

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

Senator Ayres, a final supplementary question?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] Why does Mr Morrison continue to prioritise protecting his own job over protecting the jobs and lives of ordinary Australians? When will he finally take responsibility and stand up to the extreme elements of his own party room who are spreading dangerous misinformation?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I completely reject the premise of Senator Ayres' question. How absolutely ridiculous. The Prime Minister, our government and, I would have hoped, the entire parliament here in Canberra has had one focus for the last 18 months: assisting Australians to get through this global pandemic together; making sure we encourage people to get vaccinated, even with AstraZeneca—we've got a chief medical officer in Queensland who can't even say the word 'AstraZeneca'—where there is no vaccination shortage, if you're going to choose that particular vaccination; and working with states and territories. We've got millions of Australians right now in lockdown and they're not able to get to work. It is our government that is actually supporting them with individual disaster payments should they lose hours of work. It is our government, in partnership with both Liberal and Labor state governments, that is supporting those small businesses who are subject to lockdown. (Time expired)