House debates Questions without Notice

Government Procurement

Thursday, 21 February 2019 House of Representatives

Jim Chalmers

Jim Chalmers Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State (House)

2:28 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that DFAT told Senate estimates today that embassy staff weren't aware of Mr Hockey's million-dollar Helloworld shareholding when he directed them to set up the meeting? DFAT officials in Australia were not told about Mr Hockey's conflict of interest until after the meeting, and Mr Hockey didn't list his million-dollar Helloworld shareholding on his Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade register of interests until a month after the meeting. How can the government possibly claim that Mr Hockey's conduct was completely acceptable?

Christopher Pyne

Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House

I can confirm that the secretary of DFAT has said the actions that Mr Hockey has undertaken in declaring his conflict of interest are entirely appropriate.