Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

I am specifically asked whether I, or any other member of the government, discussed this proposal at some stage. I can say on my own behalf that the first I knew of the alleged proposal was the media reports on it this morning. I have not discussed this with any of the gentlemen concerned.

For the record, I regard Mr Walker, Mr Morgan and Mr de Crespigny as very fine Australians who have made an enormous contribution to this country and to wealth creation. And, indeed, Mr de Crespigny is so highly regarded that he sat as a member of the South Australian Labor Premier’s economic committee of cabinet and was his economic guru. Mr de Crespigny, of course, chaired the South Australian Economic Development Board for the Labor Premier, Mr Rann. So these are great Australians, and I hope that no-one will suggest that there should be any pillorying of their contribution to this economy.