Bob Sercombe (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Overseas Aid and Pacific Island Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to this Auditor-General’s report which reveals that between 1999 and 2003 Airservices Australia made more than $2.1 million in improper payments to Solomon Islands officials. Minister, how did the government allow this Australian link to corruption in the Solomon Islands to go on for over four years?

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Baldwin interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Paterson is warned.

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

Although I am not the minister responsible for Airservices Australia, I am familiar enough with the issue to understand that the Auditor-General did not find any evidence of corruption and saw no basis for charges to be brought against anybody.