Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 20 June 2011:

(1)   Are there plans to close the Tasmanian office of the Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC), if so:

  (a)   when will the office be closed;

  (b)   why was it considered appropriate to close the office; and

  (c)   how many people will lose their job and will they be offered redundancies and at what cost.

(2)   Did the wife of the previous Commissioner of the ABCC ever receive any hospitality or payment for trips from the ABCC.

(3)   How long did the previous Commissioner hold office.

(4)   How long was it between the appointment of the current Commissioner and his accessing ABCC funds to provide hospitality or payment for trips to his partner.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) There are no plans to close the ABCC Tasmania office.

(2) Yes, twice. Both entries are recorded on the ABCC's Gifts and Hospitality Register.

(3) 5 years.

(4) Approximately 4.5 months.