The Abbott Government has gagged two of its most senior Ministers in the Senate with the Attorney-General and the Minister for Finance taking rare vows of silence instead of answering questions on current controversial issues in Question Time today.
The Attorney-General George Brandis ducked questions about the impact of his recent foreign policy blunder over the Middle East.
In addition to being Attorney-General, Senator Brandis represents the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Senate. Yet, when asked about the response of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Organisation to his comments, he took the question on notice.
This confirms reports that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, has instructed Senator Brandis to make no further comments about the Middle East.
Also in Senate Question Time, the Minister for Finance and Acting Assistant Treasurer, Mathias Cormann, refused to say whether the Government would maintain the four pillars policy on bank takeovers.
A leaked text for the Trade in Services Agreement, which the Government is negotiating with 50 other countries, shows it would require Australia to allow international financial services companies to expand by taking over existing domestic financial services companies.
Asked whether the Government would carve out the four pillars policy, which ensures a competitive banking sector, from this agreement, Senator Cormann took the question on notice.
It is disturbing that a Minister who administers the Treasury portfolio comes into Senate Question Time unable to answer a question about a fundamental policy like four pillars.
If the Prime Minister doesnt trust senior Ministers to answer questions in Parliament, how can the public have confidence in the Government?