House debates Questions without Notice

Liberal Party

Tuesday, 19 June 2007 House of Representatives

Alan Griffin

Alan Griffin Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs

3:11 pm

My question is again to the Special Minister of State. Further to my previous question: what precisely did Mr Phelps say to Mr Bodel?

Gary Nairn

Gary Nairn Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State

My chief of staff simply ascertained what the conversation was between the AEC and the journalist, whether we were talking about a hypothetical situation or specifically Kirribilli. I will repeat the statement from the Electoral Commissioner, which said:

The AEC takes its integrity and independence very seriously and I want to make it quite clear that no attempt was made by the Government or anybody else to influence the AEC in its response to this issue

The more the member for Bruce asks these questions, the more he is saying he does not believe the Electoral Commissioner.