Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Minister, during question time on Tuesday of this week, in answer to my colleague Senator McDonald, regarding media commentary that comprehensively agrees that you misled the Senate, you said:

I cannot control what other people write about this. Maybe they don't understand it.

Minister, are you seriously claiming that some of Australia's most senior and respected political commentators all failed to understand your public explanations of this matter? Why are you so unwilling to acknowledge that you did in fact mislead the Senate, apologise and appropriately correct the record?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's virtually an identical question to the question I was asked by Senator McDonald, and so I've answered the question. I refer the senator to the statement I've given, and, in conjunction with that statement, 39 questions—in fact, this is question No. 40—that I've answered over the past eight sitting days.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, first supplementary?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, we won't count some other questioning that happened.

Honourable senators interjecting—

In the same response to Senator McDonald, during question time on Tuesday, regarding that media commentary—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. Senator Davey, please resume your seat. Once again, senators, interjections across the chamber are disorderly. Senator Davey has a right to ask her question in silence. Could you reset the clock. And, Senator Davey, would you mind starting again, please.

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the same response to Senator McDonald, you said, regarding the media commentary:

None of them have spoken to me about it. Certainly, they haven't spoken to me about it in the last few weeks.

Minister, at any time have any of the journalists mentioned in the original question contacted you or your office asking for an interview or put written questions to you about the timing of when you first knew of the sexual assault allegations?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've got nothing further to add. I refer you to the statement that I've provided to the Senate and the answers that I've given.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, second supplementary?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On that: I specifically asked—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey, there's no point of order, because the minister has finished her answer. I invite you to ask your second supplementary.

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, isn't it the case that the reason some of the most respected political observers in this country wrote that you misled the Senate is that you actually did mislead the Senate? How can the Australian people trust this government unless you admit that you misled the Senate and simply correct the record?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer the senator to the statement I provided to the Senate eight days ago.