House debates Questions to the Speaker

Register of Members’ Interests

Monday, 26 March 2007 House of Representatives

Julia Gillard

Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

3:09 pm

Mr Speaker, I have a question to you relating to the obligation of members to declare registrable interests. Can you investigate the reasons why the member for North Sydney did not declare his interest in Babbage Hockey Pty Ltd until 19 February 2007, more than 12 months after the company’s registration? Can you also investigate the reason why the member has failed to disclose his previous directorship of the company? Finally, can you advise the House whether the member’s claim that he was not required to declare the company because ‘we did not know what we were going to do with it’ is consistent with the obligations on members—

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Julia Gillard

Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

they are quite simple questions—to comply with House resolutions relating to the disclosure of interests? It is in the interests of all members of the House to be clear on these things.

David Hawker

David Hawker Speaker

I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. I do not believe that question time is the time to raise that issue; however, I will examine the points that she has raised. I will take those on notice and I will give further consideration to them.