House debates Questions without Notice
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Jim Chalmers Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
2:07 pm
My question is to the Treasurer. Why did the Treasurer consider that concerns over ASIC's misuse of taxpayer funds were not significant enough to warrant immediate action when he's just admitted they were brought to his attention more than five weeks ago? Why did he keep the misuse of taxpayer funds secret from Australian taxpayers?
Josh Frydenberg Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer
2:08 pm
The honourable member didn't listen to the last answer, where I detailed—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Member:
A government member interjecting—
Josh Frydenberg Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer
He was too busy shouting, exactly. He's interested in the politics but not the substance of the answer. The reality is on 15 September I received an email from the ANAO, saying: 'The Auditor-General will be writing to you separately under section 26 of the Auditor-General Act concerning payments made to key management personnel. The ANAO is currently working with ASIC on key management personnel disclosures to be included in the annual report and we will write to you once this process has concluded.' As Treasury confirmed to Senate estimates this morning—
He doesn't want to listen to the advice of Treasury. As Treasury confirmed to Senate estimates this morning, their advice has been consistent throughout that I should await the letter from the Auditor-General after which they would provide advice, and I accepted that advice.