Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Birmingham, the Minister Representing the Prime Minister. Two of Mr Morrison's closest friends, Scott Briggs and David Gazard, were handpicked by the Morrison government to receive $80,000 of taxpayer money, without any tender process, to start up their own private sector quarantine business, Quarantine Services Australia. On their website, Mr Briggs and Mr Gazard boast of their close personal relationship with Mr Morrison, sharing articles saying the pair are 'about as close to the Prime Minister's inner circle as you can get', and revealing that Mr Gazard 'speaks to the PM daily'. Has Mr Morrison ever spoken with either Scott Briggs or David Gazard about a private sector quarantine proposal?

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

I thank Senator Keneally for her question—albeit, another example of the mud-raking and -throwing that those opposite seek to engage in. The answer to the last part of the question is: to the best part of my knowledge, no, never. If there is anything to update in relation to that, I will check and provide it to the chamber. But that is certainly my understanding, because the Prime Minister had no involvement whatsoever in the decision of the Department of Home Affairs to award that contract—no involvement. The contract decision was entirely a matter for the Department of Home Affairs, as the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs himself made clear to Senator Keneally at estimates on 25 October. The engagement and the contract had nothing to do with ministers, their staff or their officers and was personally overseen and managed by the department.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, a supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

According to a report by Sky News, Home Affairs secretary, Michael Pezzullo, reportedly told business leaders that the Quarantine Services Australia deal was, 'a really important project for the Prime Minister'. Given this is 'a really important project for the Prime Minister', has Mr Morrison recused himself from any and all cabinet discussions about the proposal?

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

The answer, effectively, is: yes—

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Did he recuse himself?

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

However, as I said earlier, that is only once he became even aware of the fact that anything existed in relation to discussions, because this contract, this matter, was all executed by the department, without any engagement by the Prime Minister or ministers.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, a second supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister confirm on what date the Prime Minister recused myself from any and all cabinet discussions in relation to Quarantine Services Australia?

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

I will take that on notice. But, again, I reiterate that, in terms of the contract and the engagement there, that was a matter undertaken by the department, with no discussion, approval or otherwise by the Prime Minister.