notwithstanding the comments from the member for Maribyrnong today, doubling down on his comments from 24 November, when he implied that my conduct as the former minister with procurement was corrupt. He was aided and abetted by the former Fairfax papers. On 1 December, the minister also advised the House that he had appointed the eminent Dr Ian Watt to review those contracts to ensure there was no real or perceived conflict of interest. The minister said at the time:

It will provide important independence as we seek to get to the bottom of the matter of whether there was any misconduct.

Dr Watt reported on 6 March—

Honourable members interjecting—