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

That is mischief-making on Senator Evans’s part to suggest that I am seeking to trivialise this issue in any way. Senator Santoro himself knows how serious this matter is. He has enormous regard and respect for the Senate and, in the light of that regard for the Senate, he has tendered his resignation as a minister. I understand he intends to speak to the Senate tonight to explain his failure to observe the resolution of the Senate regarding senators’ interests. He takes this matter seriously, as do I and all members of the government. He had no alternative but to tender his resignation as a minister in the light of the seriousness of the issue.