Gary Nairn (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

I am not sure that Kevin Bodel actually made that statement. I think the member for Bruce was quoting from a newspaper article, so he is assuming that something written in a newspaper article was what Mr Bodel said. I am not sure that that is the case. Irrespective of that, late on the afternoon prior to the publication of that article on 14 June, that is, on 13 June, my understanding is that the journalist who wrote that article told the Prime Minister’s press office that she had a quote from the Australian Electoral Commission stating that the use of Kirribilli House may be required to be disclosed. We knew that could not be the case because the AEC, as far as we were aware, had not asked for any information regarding this particular aspect, therefore it would not make a definitive statement like that. My office contacted the AEC after receiving that information from the Prime Minister’s press office to determine whether that was truly the case. My office was told that the journalist in question asked a hypothetical question—Kirribilli was not mentioned—about the disclosure of buildings in relation to events for fundraising. The officer, Kevin Bodel, provided an answer based on the hypothetical question. The journalist then went on to ask questions about Kirribilli. Kevin Bodel, I am informed, told the journalist, ‘Well, we would need various information before we could make any comment about Kirribilli.’ My office was concerned that a journalist was writing a story that included a quote that was contrary to what the AEC said was the way in which the conversation between them went.

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