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

My question is to the Special Minister of State, Senator Farrell. I refer the minister to media reporting regarding the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Can the minister confirm that the Deputy Prime Minister is currently the chair of the government staffing committee? If so, has the government staffing committee considered any matters relating to potential breaches of the ministerial staff code of conduct in the Deputy Prime Minister's office?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Birmingham, for that question. No and no.

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

Senator Birmingham, first supplementary?

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

Can the minister confirm what role the Prime Minister's chief of staff has in the employment of the Deputy Prime Minister's staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act and whether the Prime Minister's chief of staff has any authority or has acted to make any employment arrangements on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister or his office?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Birmingham for his first supplementary question. In respect to the chief of staff of the Prime Minister, he is on the staffing committee. I don't recall any circumstances in which the issues that you've referred to have been discussed at the staffing committee, but I'll take that question on notice and come back to you.

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

Senator Birmingham, second supplementary?

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

Can the Special Minister of State confirm that he is still the minister delegated to administer the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act and the ministerial staff code of conduct? If so, what action has the minister taken to ensure that any actions taken by the Deputy Prime Minister or the Prime Minister's chief of staff in relation to the matters reported in the media today are compliant with the act and compliant with the code?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Birmingham for his second supplementary question. It has been a very long-standing practice in this place that particularly special ministers of state don't start going into specific details about employment relations. It's important—

Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, that has been the long—

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is the biggest piece of rubbish I ever heard.

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

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Really?

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

Senator Cash! Senator Birmingham on a point of order? I am sorry, Senator Birmingham. I do need your side—

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Bunch of hypocrites.

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

Order on my left! I am not sure who that was but I am going to ask them to withdraw.

No, you stand and withdraw. I think it was you.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

Thank you, Senator Reynolds. I have Senator Birmingham on a point of order. I expect it to be heard in silence.

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

Thank you, President. The point of order goes to matters of direct relevance. The question was quite tightly worded, asking the minister in terms of actions he has taken to ensure himself of compliance with the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act and the ministerial staff code of conduct, not to go into the details of any matter, but ministerial action to ensure compliance.

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

I thought the minister was being relevant but I will continue to listen carefully, Senator Birmingham, noting your concern. Minister Farrell.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. As I said, I don't make a practice of commenting publicly about these issues and the actions that I take. In this particular job, you come across a lot of information about both staff and members of parliament. If I was called upon to release information about all of those issues from time to time— (Time expired)