Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to respond to the Standing Committee of Privileges report on whether there was any improper influence in relation to political donations made by Mr Graeme Wood in questions without notice asked by Senator Bob Brown and Senator Milne. On 22 November 2011, I sent the President a 138-page submission on the actions of Senator Brown and the Greens to assist Mr Wood's purchase of the Triabunna woodchip mill. On 23 November, the President gave precedence to a motion, passed by the Senate on 24 November, for this matter to be inquired into by the committee. Lawyers in their submission on behalf of Senators Brown and Milne claimed that I conflated Senator Brown's negotiation of the $1.6 million donation from Graeme Wood, which occurred in May 2010, with Mr Wood's efforts to buy the Triabunna woodchip mill—