House debates

Thursday, 1 December 2022

Statements

Personal Explanation

3:52 pm

Photo of Stuart RobertStuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Do you claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Stuart RobertStuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Most egregiously once more.

Photo of Milton DickMilton Dick (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

You may proceed.

Photo of Stuart RobertStuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

I note the articles by the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age, and the answers by the Minister for Government Services today. I reiterate what I told the House last week. I reject their implied imputations in the strongest possible language. I reiterate that all departmental procurements were run with the highest levels of probity, and to that end I formally wrote to the CEO of Services Australia first thing this morning to request that she provide probity confirmation to me so that I can provided it the House, as is appropriate. That was of my initiative this morning. The ECE project tender the minister referred to was released almost 12 months before I became a minister, and I believe was in contract negotiation when I was sworn in. I had zero involvement with this procurement or any other procurements, and I reject completely these accusations. I look forward to the report of whatever process the minister sees fit to put in to ensure transparency and accountability.