“The Rebecca White/Brian Mitchell pre-selection scandal reeks,” Senator Hume said.

“At the time of her controversial pre-selection, Labor’s Lyons candidate Rebecca White was the Shadow Minister for Integrity in the Tasmanian Parliament.

“Yesterday, Ms White claimed that “decisions that he’s [Mr Mitchell] made about his career are decisions for him."

“There is no way that as Shadow Minister for Integrity Ms White would have let anyone else get away with such an evasive answer.

“Ms White must explain exactly what she knew about this pre-selection, and the part she played in it.

“Her own integrity is at stake,” Senator Hume concluded.

Questions that must be answered:

1. Was a sham pre-selection held for Lyons, just so that Mr Mitchell could qualify for $115,000 taxpayer funded payout?
2. If so, why did Rebecca White tell the Tasmanian Parliament that Mr Mitchell had decided not to stand again for Lyons?
3. Did Ms White lie to the Parliament about her pre-selection?
4. Was an actual pre-selection meeting held?
5. Did Ms White present to this meeting, or was she instead “coronated”?
6. If there was an actual pre-selection meeting, was the Prime Minister, as a member of National Executive, present?
7. If no pre-selection meeting was held, how can Mr Mitchell possibly qualify for the $115,000 taxpayer-funded payout he is apparently claiming?