Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question without notice is to Senator Minchin, Minister representing the Prime Minister. Minister, hasn’t the Prime Minister taken his eye off the ball when it comes to ministerial standards? Isn’t the Prime Minister personally responsible for allowing Senator Santoro’s questionable behaviour to go unchecked for some time, given that he, first, covered up Senator Santoro’s share trading breach in October 2006; second, failed to act when Senator Santoro’s Liberal mate Russell Egan Jr boasted that he hit the jackpot in being awarded 94 aged-care bed licences in January 2007; third, looked the other way when Senator Santoro fronted a Liberal Party fundraiser sponsored by an aged-care provider in January 2007; and, fourth, ignored the two ongoing Australian Electoral Commission investigations into Queensland Liberal Party fundraising? Isn’t an inquiry by a new junior minister too little, too late?

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

That was a rant at the end of question time which made no sense and did not contribute anything to the debate. It was essentially a repetition of questions asked earlier. I am happy to repeat my answers to the questions regarding this matter. The Prime Minister has acted properly and honourably in respect of this matter at all times. When the matter of CBio was drawn to his attention he required Senator Santoro to act according to a proper and honourable course of action. He required him to dispose of those shares. The profits from those shares were given to another organisation. He ensured that the declarations were properly made. When the Prime Minister learnt last week of the nondeclaration of a series of share transactions during the course of Senator Santoro’s period as minister, Senator Santoro tendered his resignation, which the Prime Minister properly accepted. The Prime Minister’s conduct has been exemplary throughout this period. The Prime Minister expects very high standards from his ministers. Senator Santoro regrettably failed to meet those high standards and has paid the price.

I repeat that Senator Santoro is regarded throughout the aged-care industry, and I think throughout Australia, as having been a very good senator and Minister for Ageing and will be remembered well for his performance in this portfolio. He got on top of a very difficult portfolio very quickly indeed. His only sin was to not declare shares which he bought and sold during that period.

How does this compare to the performance of ministers in other states? Senator Carr from the Labor Party, this factional hack from the Victorian Labor Party who is always at war with his other factional hack—they are trying to kill each other in Victoria—represents a party which is responsible for the most appalling performance by ministers in its state governments. What is he doing about the performance of ministers in state Labor governments?

We have in the state of New South Wales the outrageous position of a former minister called Milton Orkopoulos being sacked for child sex allegations. We have Mr Carl Scully, the then police minister, sacked for twice misleading parliament over a report on the Cronulla riots. We have Tony Stewart, a parliamentary secretary, sacked for drink-driving. In Western Australia we have had an itinerant lot of ministers sacked because of their dealings with the disgraced Mr Brian Burke, the friend of Kevin Rudd—all sacked; it is a wonder there is even a ministry in Western Australia. In Tasmania, we have had a minister called Bryan Green, the deputy premier, sacked for conspiracy. It is a disgrace what has been going on in Victoria.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Minister, I would remind you of the standing order about reflecting on people in other places and I draw your attention to that. You cannot reflect on sitting members in other places.

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

Mr President, I am merely reporting to you the facts of ministers in other state Labor governments who have been sacked or dismissed in disgrace because of their behaviour. I am reporting to this Senate facts about the performance of state Labor governments.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I ask the minister: rather than engaging in the blame game, how many warnings does the Prime Minister need to have before he realises that the standards of his government have swept to new lows? Why should the Australian people have any faith in your government’s ability to adhere to proper standards of accountability into the future?

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

We on this side are sick of this holier-than-thou nonsense from the Australian Labor Party with a leader who consorts with a known and disgraced former premier not once, not twice, but thrice; with a shadow Attorney-General giving references to known crime bosses and being dismissed in disgrace. Don’t you lecture us about standards. Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.