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Thursday, 10 May 2012
Page: 4567

Member for Dobell

Mr KEENAN (Stirling) (14:43): My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that no member of her staff has held discussions or meetings with New South Wales Labor Party officials in relation to the arrangements between the member for Dobell and the New South Wales Labor Party to pay his legal fees and provide him with loans?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: In respect of this matter, I think House of Representatives Practice is very clear:

statements, activities, actions or decisions of the Minister’s own party or of its conferences, officials, representatives or candidates, or of those of other parties, including opposition parties—

are ruled out of order.

Mr Pyne: I rise on a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. This is not a question about the Labor Party; it is a question about her office and what role her office has played in the arrangements between the member for Dobell and the New South Wales Labor Party. It is about her staff.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: My apologies. In the hubbub I actually did not hear the word 'staff'. In that respect, yes, the Prime Minister must answer as she is responsible for the actions of her staff. The Prime Minister.

Opposition members interjecting—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is a very serious question and the 'death stare' will apply quite happily to anybody who does not want to listen to their leader give his address-in-reply this evening. The Prime Minister has the call.

Ms GILLARD (Lalor—Prime Minister) (14:45): The matters raised are not my responsibility, my staff's responsibility or the department's responsibility.