Barnaby Joyce in 'train wreck' interview over Centrelink, privacy, veterans affairs
Updated
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been caught seemingly unaware of the furore over his Government's release of private information, in what the Opposition is describing as "a total disaster" of a media interview.
Key points:
- The Project hosts ask Barnaby Joyce about Government's release of private information
- "No-one should be leaking for malicious purposes information," Mr Joyce says
- Mr Joyce said he wasn't told the interview would be about privacy concerns
The Australian Federal Police has been asked to investigate Social Services Minister Alan Tudge who authorised the leak of blogger Andie Fox's personal and protected Centrelink details in response to a story she wrote.
The Government is also pushing for new powers that would allow it to release a veteran's personal information, should it wish to correct public statements.
When asked on The Project about whether it was appropriate for the Government to release private information, Mr Joyce appeared confused.
"If someone has broken the law, then I suppose that in that instance then it's basically, it's going to be investigated," he said as the hosts looked puzzled.
"No-one should be leaking for malicious purposes information … especially if it's information that's been given privately."
His comments are at odds with the Department of Human Services which has defended releasing the information to a journalist, insisting it was proportionate and legal.
'It was painful to watch': Dastyari
The hosts repeatedly pushed Mr Joyce to discuss the privacy concerns, but he instead kept talking about the department's controversial debt recovery program.
"You should get the Agriculture Minister on to talk about agriculture not veterans affairs," he said.
"It would help if you called me before to tell me you wanted to talk about this."
The hosts responded they had briefed his staff before the interview and that it was fair to expect the Deputy Prime Minister to be across the major issues.
"It was a train wreck of an interview," Labor's Sam Dastyari said.
"How does the Deputy Prime Minister go on television without knowing the major issues facing the nation?"
"It was painful to watch but nonetheless captivating. A total disaster."
Mr Joyce's office says it was told the interview would be about the issues of the week, and not just about privacy concerns.
Topics: federal-government, government-and-politics, welfare, community-and-society, journalism, australia
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