Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 33:15 to 43:46
Inquiry into ministerial accountability, Freedom of Information requests, and the absence of Minister King from the committee hearing.
Topics: Freedom of information, Public service staffing, Parliamentary privilege
Speakers: Senator Bridget McKenzie, Speaker 4, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Unknown Speaker, Lisa Rauter, Senator Glenn Sterle, Speaker 12, Speaker 7
Secretary, so I will be revisiting this line of questioning. Um because I don't Yeah. I just uh want to go back to some of the questions we put to the department at the inquiry last week in relation to documents released under the FOI. On the 4th of September '26, Minister King's office invited the Prime Minister to attend a Marrickville Golf Club upgrade photo op to be uh held on the 12th of September. When asked about whether Minister King like whether the um Minister King's whether the department produced a brief for the photo op um as I heard it, we would only get notice if there was a briefing requested and there's been no briefing requested, Ms. Rauter. I think that was your evidence. But on reviewing the documents released under FOI, there actually was a briefing included um branded as from your department. Now, it was an FOI to PM&C who released a briefing paper from the Department of Infrastructure. Now, you've had a few days to consider this. Um can you advise what you knew about the proposed photo op that was to be scheduled on the 12th of September 2026 at the Marrickville Golf Club with the Prime Minister and Minister King?
>> So, Senator, the briefing request did come through from PMC uh put through to our events team, hence why I did not have visibility of it. >> Yep. >> Um and briefing was I guess provided from from there, but not from the program team.
>> Okay. So, who first requested the photo opportunity? Was it the Prime Minister
>> I don't have that detail, Senator. I I just have that we received the event request for a photo opportunity um on the 3rd of September. That's That's the detail I have, so I'll have to take that on notice.
>> So, you received the request on the 3rd. Well, if you're receiving a request rather than surely request, it would seem the request must have come from PMC, therefore PMO, Prime Minister the photo op. Otherwise, the brief would have gone the other way, right? Infrastructure would have sent PMC a uh >> So, the email, as I understand it, went from King's office to PMO. >> Would the department be aware of a direct email between Minister King's office and Prime Minister's office? on what date did confirmation come through that the photo opportunity would not be held.
>> I'll have to take that on notice, Senator. I don't know that.
>> Is anyone from the event section here today?
>> They're under corporate.
>> Should have I asked this in corporate?
>> Yeah. >> Seems a long time ago now, doesn't it?
>> Yes, Secretary. Yes, it is.
>> It'll seem longer later.
>> On notice Secretary, you would know the answer to this, I'm sure. In fact, I'm super confident you would. Um what date did confirmation come through that the photo opportunity that was supposed to be held would not be
>> You think I would know that?
>> I do. I do think you'd know that.
>> Flat out, just understanding the question, to be honest. I've got no I've got no information about that. Sorry.
>> Was the advice received after the ABC 7:30 report into the golf club project?
Let us Let us take that on notice. We'll find out. Our events team may well hold that information.
Okay. Um who's repping Minister King today in the House of Representatives? >> Is Minister King on leave today?
>> I believe it might be Minister McBain.
>> Is Minister King on leave today? >> Is she on portfolio duty, Secretary? Is she off holding a ministerial council? Is there
>> I'll have to check.
>> Well, surely someone will have had to have provided a huge brief if she's holding a ministerial council. >> on portfolio duties?
>> I don't know if the minister is on leave today. >> Okay, on leave from Parliament attending to portfolio duties.
>> And what are those portfolio duties?
>> They're her normal duties that she would attend to as the minister for
>> Well, no, I appreciate that but when ministers go off and attend port- port- portfolio duties, they go uh with an army of staff um and a huge briefing pack from the department. Can somebody help with what the minister is doing Ms. McDonald? >> Ms. Rauter? Ms. Hall?
>> If the minister is on leave from Parliament, that would have been an arrangement sorted out, I imagine, with the Prime Minister's office.
>> It is, but I'm asking I'm It is, but you have said she's on portfolio duties
>> Yeah.
>> which means the department should know what those portfolio duties are. It's not that she's visiting the Ballarat Cubs.
>> No, but it may be that she is in Ballarat um for personal reasons but still taking departmental briefs um and um exercising her normal functions as a minister. But she's simply not okay.
>> That's a whole 'nother basket. If she is on portfolio duties, then she's doing official ministerial duties of which the department needs to be supporting her on. So, I'm wondering why you don't know.
>> Well, I'm speculating here.
>> You're saying she's on portfolio duties because somebody has told you behind you that she's on portfolio duties >> and yet the department is unable to specify what portfolio duties they are.
>> Uh well, they are I imagine that they are her normal portfolio duties. So, any um material that she would normally consider during the course of a working day, she would be doing that but she'd be doing it, I imagine, from Ballarat.
Mr. Betts, departments know what their ministers are doing every single minute of every single day.
>> and present here for the day, Minister.
>> Well, you have an army behind you, Mr. Bates.
>> but these these are these are arrangements which are sorted out between ministerial offices.
>> that. >> But
>> We We would obviously
>> Saying she's on portfolio duties, being able to receive briefs doesn't constitute portfolio duties. >> Is she making an announcement? >> Is she meeting with state ministers about projects? Is she overseas at a transport conference?
>> Well, that's a no.
>> Or you'd be with her.
>> I certainly wouldn't.
you've got no idea.
>> I've got no idea exactly what the Minister is doing at this moment.
>> Okay. Uh, Minister McCarthy, do you have any idea what portfolio duties Minister King is doing today?
>> I'm just aware that uh, Minister McBain
>> Um, do you know if Minister King will be available tomorrow in Parliament?
>> Uh, I would have to check, uh, Senator [clears throat] McKenzie.
>> Thank you, because I would hate for Minister King's um interview yesterday where she admitted the Labor Party uh, headquarters involvement in the grants program was a reason she was unable to attend question time today. So, if she's on portfolio duties, I get it. I'd just like to know what they are. Um, if she's not on portfolio duties, but um if she's on personal leave, absolutely. Uh, people need to take personal leave, but that's not the evidence. The evidence is she's on portfolio duties. tomorrow.
>> Senator McKenzie, I just like to through the chair just remind the senator of any reflection of ministers, members of parliament, senators, whether absent or otherwise, is something that the committee needs to also be aware of.
>> I chair, I would like to say it wasn't a reflection, it was a question as to where the place was. It wasn't a reflection that she should be here, it was a reflection it was a question.
>> Absolutely. Sorry senator, but Senator McKenzie went further in terms of the minister in regards to comments that the senator has made about her appearance or otherwise in the chamber.
>> Minister, I am able to on behalf of the Australian taxpayer question why why a minister isn't in parliament. I'm told the evidence to this committee is that she's on portfolio duties. I am absolutely able to ask what those portfolio duties are. >> No, I'm referring to your statement >> I am not entitled to ask her what her personal leave is about.
>> to your statement in relation to whether
she was going to answer questions about her interview with Colangelo yesterday
whether she was going to be present or otherwise. That's what I'm referring to chair.
>> Present or otherwise?
>> Because we know that senators and members do have leave from the parliament and we are reminded of not reflecting on them.
>> Point taken. Questions, any further questions?
>> One more.