2GB

SUBJECTS: Timing of the carbon tax vote

E&OE

Christopher Pyne:

Good afternoon Ben

Ben Fordham:

Ah- will Craig Thomson be granted a pair if his wife is giving birth at the same time as the carbon tax debate?

Christopher Pyne

No there will be no pairs granted during the carbon tax vote. It’s entirely within the gift of the Government when the carbon tax bills are brought on for a vote and therefore they have had weeks of notice that we will be not giving pairs at the vote. If they are foolish enough to schedule the vote at a time when Mr Thomson can’t be there, then that will be on their heads

Ben Fordham

Has there been any indication from Craig Thomson or anyone in the Labor party that they will be seeking a pair during that time?

Christopher Pyne

No.

Ben Fordham

Okay so these are pure hypotheticals…

Christopher Pyne

These are pure hypotheticals, the Government can decide when the carbon tax vote is held. You would assume that they would hold at a time when their members can be present. And therefore we won’t be granting any pairs. So the story in the Fairfax media online is an extraordinary beat-up. And they really should go back and correct what they’ve written because nobody has denied Craig Thomson a pair for the birth of his baby. It’s a complete misnomer.

Ben Fordham

Okay well Tony Abbott has left open the possibility in his comments coz he says “we’ve made it crystal clear that only in the most extraordinary circumstances will pairs be offered. That leaves open the opportunity that the birth of a baby could be seen as an extraordinary circumstance. You’re saying it’s not.

Christopher Pyne

Of course it could be the exceptional circumstance, but we’ll determine that at the time. I mean this obsession with the Fairfax media with pairing arrangements in the national Parliament is enough to make your eyes glaze over. Simple fact of the matter is that people apply for pairs when they need them. We’re not trying to respond to every possible hypothetical, the next thing I’ll be asked is if people will be given pairs if they get hit by a semi-trailer outside of Parliament House. When there is a circumstance that requires a pair, we will assess each one at the time. But the point remains utterly crystal clear that the government can define when the carbon tax votes are held, and therefore they should hold them when their members are available.

Ben Fordham

And the point you’ve made already is in the event that there was a pair sought by the Labor party for Craig Thomson while his wife was giving birth, that because its falling during a crucial debate being the carbon tax debate the answer would be no.

Christopher Pyne

We will assess each pair at the time and we’ve made it crystal clear that the carbon tax vote will be the most important vote this Parliament will have and every member is expected to be there. And we will assess every circumstance when it arises, but the Government should schedule the vote when they know their members can be present.

Ben Fordham

And that’s your argument surely, well hang on, it is the Government who decides when the carbon tax vote is going to happen. So if that is in conflict with a moment in one of their lives that they feel that they need to be present at then that’s their problem not yours?

Christopher Pyne

Well they can decide not to hold the votes while Mr Thomson is away. They can decide that perfectly themselves, without any assistance from us. The Opposition doesn’t decide when votes are scheduled, the Government does. The Government should stop pretending that somehow it’s a matter for the Opposition, it’s a matter entirely of the Government. We’ve given them weeks and weeks of notice of this, they can’t possibly try and claim this has come as any great surprise, and neither can any other member of the press.

Ben Fordham

Okay don’t you run the risk that your rivals are able to turn this around as this has happened today and people say oh well what a heartless position to take, despite that this guy is no doubt a proven grub, and you’ve got a father being denied the right to witness the birth of his child.

Christopher Pyne

Ah- honestly Ben I don’t think the public care less whether the Opposition grants pairs to the Government or whether the Government rouses about not being granted pairs, they are much more interested in how much more they are going to have to pay under the carbon tax, cost of industry pressures, interest rate rises and whether they are going to be able to afford the family car on the weekend. These are the issues people care about, nobody except a tiny percentage of the population who watches question time every day will pay any attention to what’s on Fairfax online and will be the least bit interested on the issue of pairs and the Commonwealth Parliament

Ben Fordham

Okay Christopher Pyne I appreciate your time this afternoon.

ENDS