Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Can the minister confirm whether or not the $1 million contract of Mr Trevor Flugge, paid for out of the Australian aid budget, was taxable?

Alexander Downer (Mayo, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am afraid I am not the minister responsible for taxation but I would expect Mr Flugge and the other—what would it be?—12 million or so Australian taxpayers to fulfil all of their obligations under the tax act. People are paid by the Australian government in accordance with the laws of the land.