My question is to the Special Minister of State. I refer to his previous answer, where he referred to the statements by the member for Fairfax yesterday in parliament, where the member for Fairfax said:

… the current member for Fisher at the meeting requested I fund the legal costs of Mr Ashby …

Can the minister confirm that he asked the member for Fairfax to hand over $200,000 to fund James Ashby's legal case? Given the minister is responsible for government integrity, were the minister's actions appropriate and in keeping with the standards he would enforce as minister?

I again say to the honourable member that, when these allegations were made two years ago, I responded to them decisively then, and those words continue to stand.