Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Santoro, the Minister for Ageing and Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Can the minister confirm his earlier answer that MP Consulting was engaged to provide technical advice in the drafting of the Kay Patterson private member’s bill on cloning? If so, what was the cost of the consultancy and the duration of the consultancy? Did the department pay MP Consulting and was there any other paid consultancy for the private member’s bill? Was any other senator, such as Senator Stott Despoja, offered the same consultancy, or the ability to access any other consultancy? Is MP Consultancy connected with Michael Photios?

Santo Santoro (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The advice I have is that MP Consulting did provide the consultancy services. The advice that I can provide the Senate is that arrangements for those consultancy services will finish today. There were a lot of questions there, Senator Ludwig. I will undertake to try to find out what the cost of the consultancy was; I do not have those figures available. To the best of my knowledge, no other consultants were used, requested or made available. No request was received from Senator Stott Despoja. Had it been received I think it would possibly have been considered.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Minister, would you also confirm whether Michael Photios represents or is associated with MP Consulting? Will you also confirm whether an offer was made to Senator Stott Despoja, given the provision of consultancy services to Senator Kay Patterson for her private member’s bill? Can the minister confirm whether his conduct in doing so was consistent with the ministerial code of conduct guidelines?

Santo Santoro (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the very best of my knowledge—I am almost prepared to say that I am absolutely certain—Michael Photios has no association with MP Consulting. What was the other question?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Was your conduct consistent with the ministerial code of conduct guidelines.

Santo Santoro (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I sought advice on that, and to the best of my knowledge no ministerial code of conduct has been breached.