Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories has disclosed ownership of shares in eight different companies and later sought to transfer them to her husband, something the code specifically prohibits. Prime Minister, is the minister in breach of the Prime Minister's Ministerial Code of Conduct?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will ask the minister to supplement my answer, but I'm very satisfied with the explanation that the minister gave me. The minister rang me about the circumstances. The minister is seeking to rectify that at the earliest possible opportunity, and that's the way that it should work.

But I'm not going to take lectures about transparency from those opposite, who didn't know who the Treasurer was, didn't know who the finance minister was, didn't know who the energy and science minister was and didn't know who the health minister was. The finance minister has responsibility for signing off as the—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister will just take a break.

Order, the minister for climate change! I'll hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's on relevance, Mr Speaker. It was a very specific question, and we're now trawling into the history of the previous government.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One thing that didn't happen is that we didn't have to worry about someone being sworn into the department of the arts, because there wasn't one.

But the truth is we won't take lectures on transparency from those opposite. We've been upfront about our position with regard to the Ministerial Code of Conduct. We're making sure that, unlike with those opposite, there aren't any conflicts there. I'd ask the minister to supplement.

Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Prime Minister. I thank the member for the question, because it is an important topic. After I was sworn in as a minister, I divested myself of shares by transferring them to my husband. On reviewing the code of conduct and after making some additional inquiries, I realised that that was not an adequate form of divestment. My husband and I at all times fully intended to sell the shares. However, I am the first to admit that that should have taken place sooner. I take my responsibilities as a minister very seriously. We have now divested ourselves of all the shares to ensure that there's no conflict of interest. Since the shares are now sold, I consider the matter closed. At no point did I intend to deceive the parliament. I adequately disclosed, as I was required to, unlike those opposite.

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! We will have some silence in the chamber.