Doors, Parliament House
STEVEN CIOBO: Well today continues on the Coalition's track record of delivery. Today we will have the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the upgrade of the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement. An Agreement that continues to deliver the framework to make sure the Australian economy can continue to power ahead, continue to provide job opportunities for Australians, that builds on this Government's commitment to opening up global markets to Australian exporters because we fundamentally know that by opening up markets to Australian exporters we are going to drive job growth, and we are going to drive economic growth. In addition this week, the Government of course, has delivered upon its promise to Emergency Service workers, the CFA in Victoria. We've also of course delivered tax cuts for ordinary wage earners which will see 500,000 Australians with more money in their pocket. This is part of the Coalition Government's ongoing commitment to delivery, and making sure that Australians are materially better off. Happy to take a couple of questions.
JOURNALIST: You talk about the Coalition delivering, was the Coalition delivering when Kelly O'Dwyer let through the Second Reading Amendment from Labor yesterday?
STEVEN CIOBO: Well the fixer has once again fixed it, and we're in a better position as a consequence.
JOURNALIST: But surely it shouldn't have happened in the first place?
STEVEN CIOBO: Look, there are a number of procedural errors that took place and I was pleased that last night the Opposition supported the Government's motion effectively to rescind that due to procedural errors. And as I said once again we see the fixer fixing it.
JOURNALIST: But it shouldn't have happened?
STEVEN CIOBO: I can't really elaborate any further on what I've said.
JOURNALIST: Kelly O'Dwyer during the campaign said that negative gearing changes would increase house values, now she's done this. Is there a pattern of mismanagement on her part here?
STEVEN CIOBO: As I said there are a number of procedural errors which the fixer has now fixed.
JOURNALIST: For Kelly O'Dwyer?
STEVEN CIOBO: Kelly O'Dwyer is an extremely good Minister, someone with a deep track record of dealing with complex financial matters, someone with a strong track record in the Treasurer's office, and frankly I think it's a little juvenile for people to claim that as a consequence of a procedural error in the house, that it in some way impacts upon her broad and deep knowledge of complex financial matters.
JOURNALIST: But doesn't the Government have to tighten its game considering what happened before with everyone sort of leaving a little bit early and, you know, you've got a one-seat majority, do you have to be reminded of that?
STEVEN CIOBO: The Coalition Government is demonstrating in a material way that we are delivering for the Australian people. Frankly, Tony Burke and the Labor Party can come out and make a song and dance about a procedural error in the House of Representatives, but what Australians are actually looking for, beyond the silly political games that the Labor Party likes to play, is what has the Government done for Australians? And what we have done this week alone is delivered on the Comprehensive Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement, we've delivered tax cuts to ordinary working Australians, and we've delivered on our commitment to CFA volunteers in Victoria. That's a track record that Australians want to talk about. And frankly, if the Labor Party want to go on about procedural matters, well good luck to them, but that's not what occupies the Government's mind.
JOURNALIST: Do you use WhatsApp?
STEVEN CIOBO: I do.
JOURNALIST: Do you use it for confidential Cabinet discussions?
STEVEN CIOBO: I do not. And in relation to that story, look, talk about a storm in a teacup. The fact is that comments are made, conversations are had on WhatsApp that are not confidential. Conversations are effectively coordinating a discussion only, and there's no classified discussions taking place on WhatsApp. It might have to be the final question because I have to go.
JOURNALIST: Do you think communications on WhatsApp are covered by the Freedom of Information Act?
STEVEN CIOBO: Well I'm going to leave that to the Attorney-General to provide an answer on that.
JOURNALIST: Do you see them as covered by it? Do you consider them –
STEVEN CIOBO: It doesn't really matter whether I consider that or not, what matters is what the legal position is, and I'll leave it to the Attorney-General to make remarks on that. Alright, thanks everybody.