Jobs minister Michaelia Cash has maintained her 297-day vow of silence by again refusing to answer if she has been interviewed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) over the leaks from her office to the media about raids on the Australian Workers' Union (AWU).
In a rare press conference, BuzzFeed News asked Cash whether she had been interviewed by the AFP.
BuzzFeed News: Minister have you been interviewed by the Australian Federal Police -
Cash: Oh Alice -
BuzzFeed News: After they said that they are speaking to the DPP about possible prosecutions over leaks from your office last year?
Cash: Well Alice in the first instance you would know that I am not a party to the proceedings. You would also know that I am not being interviewed — I have not been under investigation, nor my office. What this is all about is the AWU are currently challenging proceedings in the court because they don't want to produce the relevant documentation to show that donations made by Bill Shorten when he was the leader of the AWU, members' money to get up $100,000 to his own campaign of $25,000 were properly authorised. I am not a party to these proceedings.
When pushed, Cash told BuzzFeed News: "You and I are going to have to agree to disagree. Not a party to proceedings. Not under investigation."
Ninety minutes later, in Senate Question Time, Labor senator Doug Cameron asked for clarification.
Labor: Can the minister now confirm to the Senate that she has not been interviewed by the AFP?
Cash: Thank you very much Mr president and I have to say senator Cameron I would have thought it was more appropriate to ask about the labour force figures and the employment in this country, but they are not interested, that’s exactly right. Senator Cameron I have confirmed time and time again this is not an investigation into me or my office, no matter how many times you try to say it is.
The AFP has refused to rule out whether it is investigating Cash, her office, former justice minister Michael Keenan, or any other ministers. It has also refused to say whether Cash may have committed an offence.
"It's not in the public interest for the AFP to answer the question on the grounds that it may prejudice the ongoing investigation of a possible breach of law," AFP deputy commissioner Leanne Close told Senate Estimates.
BuzzFeed News revealed earlier this month that the AFP had shared evidence from its investigation into the media being tipped off about the October 24 raids with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), to determine whether charges should be laid.
Internal AFP documents reveal one of the offences police are investigation is "unauthorised disclosure of government information", which carries a maximum two-year jail term.
Cash refused to answer whether she's had any contact with the DPP.
Finance minister Mathias Cormann interrupted Labor's line of questioning to prevent the Senate from forcing Cash to answer any questions.
"Which other minister needs this level of protection?" Labor senator Murray Watt asked.
Cash's taxpayer funded lawyers have yet to challenge a Federal Court subpoena to appear in person to give evidence about the leak, despite the minister calling a press conference three months ago to announce she had instructed them to do so.
In May Cash was reissued with three subpoenas by the Federal Court to produce documents and appear to give evidence at the AWU's challenge into the "improper political purpose" of the raids.
At the time she loudly proclaimed the subpoena was a "political stunt".
"I will not be bullied by the Australian Labor Party," Cash said in May. "I will comply with the legal process. As part of that process I have issued instructions to the lawyers to have the subpoena set aside."
But the court has yet to receive an application from Cash's lawyers, despite the June 20 return of subpoena deadline passing.
When asked on Thursday if she still planned to challenge the subpoenas, Cash said: "I will not be providing a running commentary."
Unless the subpoena is set aside, the jobs minister will have to produce any documents about the raid, including communications with her staff, and appear in person at the Federal Court.
A trial date for the AWU's case has not been set; it is currently on hold until the AFP's investigation is completed.
The AFP previously said its investigation would be concluded by the end of July. It has now been running for over nine months. When asked on Thursday by BuzzFeed News for a status update on the investigation that was launched 297 days ago the AFP said it was ongoing.
Taxpayers have so far been charged more than $700,000 to defend government agencies against the AWU's claim that the raids were politically motivated.