Tuesday, 3 February 2026

 The PRESIDENT (18:19): I thank Minister Erdogan, who will get responses from the Attorney-General for both of Ms Payne’s questions. He will also get responses for Ms Gray-Barberio for both of her questions to the Minister for Police.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, I asked a question about the quarterly asset investment reports. In the 2024–25 financial year, quarter 2, the Treasurer was the Treasurer – she was in the job at the time. The quarterly asset investment report came in from the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The Treasurer can answer a question about a document that was sent to the department in the time when she was Treasurer.

Harriet Shing: Further to the point of order, President, as Mr Davis would be well aware, there are multiple rulings from this President and previous presidents about the granularity of questions and the extent to which a member can be expected to provide a response on their feet in respect of such granularity. Mr Davis, that is something which I would invite you to take account of in respect of the Treasurer’s answer – that she would endeavour to provide information and to come back to you where it was available to her.

David Davis: Further to the point of order, President, I put it to you that these asset investment reports are submitted to the department to give warnings to the treasury department and the Treasurer. There is a series of green and amber and red warnings. I have not asked about the hundreds of green ones, I have asked about the troubled, or amber and red, ones, which are exactly the sort of thing beyond the granularity that you are suggesting – the red ones where the budget is blowing out or there is a problem. The department has said that there is a problem, and you would think that the Treasurer would be prepared to look at the material that comes from a department with the red warnings on it.

Members interjecting.

Jacinta Ermacora: On a point of order, President, there is too much noise, and Lilah is sleeping.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: If everyone stays calm, we will be all right. I think the Treasurer, actually, in one of her responses, hit the nail on the head. She said if there are any accusations that she may be misleading the house, there are other provisions around motions, and the debate that just went on then and points of order can happen during that. There is no point of order, but –

David Davis: On the point of order, President, we are not suggesting on this matter that she has misled the house. On the matter of the CFA, that is a different question. I will leave that to Mrs McArthur. But on this matter, I am merely suggesting that the Treasurer is not on top of her brief. A red warning comes in, and she appears unaware of it.

The PRESIDENT: Can we save it for debate on a future day.

Sarah Mansfield: On a point of order, President, I do not believe the minister’s response to my question was relevant to the question, and I move that her response be taken into account on the next day of meeting.

The PRESIDENT: I will review that and get back by the end of today.

Sitting suspended 6:25 pm until 7:28 pm.

Nick McGowan: On a point of order, given the poignancy of today and the events that have occurred in this place, I just draw your attention, President, to some chalk that has appeared on the front steps of Parliament. I am happy to give you copies of that and what that says. I would rather not repeat those phrases here, but could your parliamentary staff perhaps investigate that and look to removing that as soon as possible? I think that, given what has been moved in this place in respect to Bondi in particular, if not the timing then certainly the words do not lend themselves to what this place has passed today.

The PRESIDENT: It was just recently brought to my attention, so I think we can address it very quickly as far as removing it goes. Any sort of commentary whatsoever on our steps is unacceptable, no matter what the commentary. I am actually quite disappointed that someone could have done it. I will follow that up to make sure there is a bit more diligence around this sort of activity, because it has got me blown. I thank you for the point of order.