House debates

Monday, 18 June 2007

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008

Consideration in Detail

6:48 pm

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Casey, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler’s questions could be easily answered if he would just take the trouble to read the statement from the AEC on the morning of 14 June, in which the AEC announced that it was examining any potential disclosure obligations under the Electoral Act in relation to a function hosted by the Prime Minister and noted suggestions that the government may have attempted to silence or constrain the AEC in its responses to the media on the issue. The statement says:

“The AEC takes its integrity and independence very seriously and I want to make it quite clear that no attempt was made by the Government or anybody else to influence the AEC in its response to this issue,” Electoral Commissioner, Mr Ian Campbell said.

The member for Grayndler asked the question, but he is obviously not interested in the answer. Obviously, he has not read the press release. It continues:

“Contrary to some media reports, the AEC Director of Funding and Disclosure, Mr Kevin Bodel was not asked by the AEC or the Government to “shut up” regarding these matters.”

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