QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE › Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education
Senator CAMERON (New South Wales) (14:25): My question is to the Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator Cash. In an article in the Australian Financial Review, entitled: 'Michaelia Cash declined to give AFP statement on union raids fresh claims', it was reported: Cabinet minister Michaelia Cash has become the latest target of the payback culture inside the Liberal Party, after allegations emerged that she declined to provide a witness statement to the Australian Federal Police investigating the leaking of a union raid from within her office. The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, on a point of order. Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, I know you're looking at this and are going to rule in the next session, but this is clearly not a statement of fact that is relevant to this question—whatever the question might happen to be when Senator Cameron gets to it. This is simply another muckraking exercise by members of the Labor Party who are determined to get one of the best ministers we have— The PRESIDENT: Order! Please resume your seat, Senator Macdonald. You are correct that I will be addressing the issue of inferences, imputations and the length of preambles to questions during the break. However, I can't rule whether a question is in order until I hear the complete question. Senators are allowed to have material which they then refer to in a specific question in their preamble, in my view, under the standing orders. Senator CAMERON: A senior Liberal source is quoted as saying the minister was asked to cooperate and she didn't. Why has the minister refused to cooperate with the AFP's investigation?