Senate Estimates: Government evades questions on Brian Houston’s White House state dinner invite

The government refuses to clarify whether the PM invited Brian Houston to the White House state dinner.

Pastor Brian Houston preaching to his congregation at Sydney's Hillsong Church.

The government has refused to clarify whether Scott Morrison invited the head of the Hillsong church to dinner at the White House hosted by Donald Trump out of concern it could “impact on international relations”.

Appearing before a Senate Estimates hearing, first assistant secretary in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Gerard Martin, said: “Any matters related to compilation or consideration of the guest list for a state dinner provide by the United States would be a matter that might impact on international relations.”

The answer was prepared by PM&C in anticipation of the question, after the Wall Street Journal reported the US government knocked back a request from the Prime Minister to invite Hillsong pastor Brian Houston to the White House state dinner.

Mr Morrison, who attends the Hillsong church, has refused to confirm or deny the report.

The Prime Minister refused to answer questions about the matter, which he dismissed as “gossip”.

Mr Houston has been cited by Mr Morrison as a close friend.

However, Mr Houston is currently under police investigation over his handling of historical child sex abuse committed by his father, Frank Houston, who was a serial sex abuser and died in 2004. Mr Houston was found by the child sex Royal Commission to have failed to tell police about allegations against his father.

Liberal Senator Mathias Cormann rejected accusations by Labor senator Penny Wong there was a public service cover up over the invitation list for the state dinner.

Mr Martin said the PM&C had not provided a list of suggested names for the dinner.

PM&C deputy secretary Stephanie Foster said the department would always prepare ahead of Senate Estimates for “information which might, for example, prejudice international relations”.

Hillsong and Brian Houston stridently maintain the Hillsong leader has done nothing wrong, claiming he acted in the best interests of the boy repeatedly abused by Frank Houston in 1970.