Page 179 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 15 February 2012
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MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, if the Prime Minister’s office contacted Mr Purtill, was he contacted in his capacity as an adviser in your office or was it because he was the president of the ACT Labor Party?
Mr Hargreaves: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Almost all questions posed in this chamber which start off with the word “if” are hypothetical. I would ask you to rule that out of order.
MR SPEAKER: Could I have the question again, Mrs Dunne, please?
MRS DUNNE: If Mr Purtill was contacted, was it because he was the president of the ACT Labor Party or a member of your office?
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: I will allow the question to proceed.
DR BOURKE: I thank the member for her question. It is noteworthy that in the last two days we have had more questions on Indigenous matters from the Canberra Liberals than we had in the previous 12 months.
Mr Seselja: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order.
MR SPEAKER: Order! One moment, Dr Bourke, please. Stop the clock, thank you.
Mr Seselja: It is on both standing order 118(b), in terms of debating the question, as well as relevance—direct relevance. He has been asked, “Was it the president of the Labor Party or not?” It is a very simple question. If he cannot answer it, he should sit down. But he should answer the question.
Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Mr Speaker. You have got plenty of time left to satisfy the curiosity of that lot over there.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members! Minister Bourke, you have the floor. You do have some time left, but let us try and focus on the question at hand, thank you.
DR BOURKE: I will attempt to do that in the next minute and 35 seconds, Mr Speaker. I will not be naming people from my office.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Why is it that you are refusing to answer questions about whether Mr Garrett Purtill, who is the president of the Labor Party and who works in your office, was the individual responsible for taking phone calls on Australia Day from
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