My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the conflict of interest involving Senator Nash's former chief of staff and to the statement of the Prime Minister's own department at Senate estimates that the Prime Minister approves all personal staff appointments. Did the Prime Minister know of the conflict of interest when this appointment was made and, if so, why was no action taken?

The short answer is that certain requirements were put on the staffer in question. My understanding is that he failed to adhere to those requirements. When it became obvious, the staffer in question resigned and the matter is now at an end.