Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Wong. Minister, the following are your words from 2021, directed at the coalition government: 'A serious crime was covered up.' 'It's a cover-up.' 'The cover-up is unreal.' In an estimates hearing that year, Senator Gallagher stated: 'It is a cover-up of the cover-up of the cover-up. It's like a triple cover-up.' You followed that with, 'You'—the government—'should be ashamed of yourselves.' In a relevant recent Federal Court judgement, Justice Lee found, when examined properly and without partiality, the cover-up allegation was objectively short on facts and long on speculation and internal inconsistencies. He further stated that the publication of the cover-up component caused:

… confusion, and did much collateral damage—including to the fair and orderly progress of the underlying allegation of sexual assault through the criminal justice system …

Do you now accept that no cover-up occurred and that the politicisation of this matter caused much collateral damage?

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

Senator Scarr, I will advise you that statements made by senators before they were a minister are not relevant to their role as minister. I will invite Senator Wong to answer your question with the caveat that I've just explained.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am surprised at that question. There were quite a number of findings made by the judge, and can I indicate my personal sympathy for Ms Higgins, who the judge found was raped in the minister's office. Other than that, I think there has been much said in many contexts about this, and, unlike some on that side—

Opposition Senator:

An opposition senator interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Canavan, I'm calling for order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unlike some on that side, I think this is a matter which it would be best if we moved on from in the spirit—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind those opposite of the—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Order, particularly on my left! Order, Senator Ayres! Minister, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Higgins made a public statement about healing. I thought it was—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Minister Wong, please resume your seat. I would ask all senators in this place to listen in respectful silence. Minister Wong, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Higgins made a public statement about healing. This is a woman who a court has found to have been raped in the office of a minister. I would have thought she deserves a little bit more respect.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Scarr, resume your seat, please. I would expect all senators in this place to listen with respectful silence. If you want to make a contribution, make it at some other time, not by being disorderly and disrespectful in this chamber during question time. Senator Scarr.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In 2021, you stated about my friend and colleague Senator Reynolds:

… Senator Reynolds did not lead by example, and she let a woman down badly—a woman to whom she had a duty of care.

So I ask this: what are the consequences for Senator Reynolds? I ask you, Minister: what should be the consequences for your inaccurate accusation and politicisation of this matter?

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

Once again, Senator Scarr, I remind you that this question is not in order. It was made while the member was in opposition, so that caveat applies. I'm going to ask Minister Wong if she wishes to make a contribution, and I'm asking all senators to listen in respectful silence.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I'm surprised that those opposite wish to continue with this, and I refer to my first answer.

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

Senator Scarr, second supplementary?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Justice Lee added:

… it is the only alleged cover-up of which I am aware where those said to be responsible for the covering up were almost insisting the complainant to go to the police.

Minister, will you reflect on and apologise for your role in promoting the false narrative of a cover-up?

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

Senator Scarr, once again, before I call Minister Wong, that question is not in order. It is referring to comments allegedly made at a previous time when people on the government side were not ministers. I invite Minister Wong to make a contribution if she wishes.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Serious allegations were made, appropriate questions were asked in relation to those serious allegations, and Justice Lee has made findings which confirm the seriousness of the allegations.