The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Minister Shorten is on the public record as at 26 April 2012 as having not seen Ms Asmar for about a year.

"Mr Shorten said he…had not seen Cr Asmar for about a year."

Australian Financial Review, 26 April 2012.

None of the Minister's staff have had a meeting or telephone contact with Ms Asmar since he became Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.