David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 18 August 2011:

Did the Minister or any of his ministerial staff receive a briefing, written or verbal, from the department regarding the tender panel's report and recommendation of a preferred tenderer in relation to the Australia Network tender:

(1)   If so: (a) when was the brief received by the Minister's office; (b) when was the brief sighted by the Minister; and (c) what type of ministerial action was requested by the department, and was it agreed to by the Minister.

(2)   If not, why not.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

In the period since Senator Johnston submitted Question on Notice 940 on 18 August 2011, the Government terminated the Australia Network tender process and instituted an investigation by the Australian Federal Police due to leaks of confidential information. The Auditor-General has also decided to conduct a performance audit of the administration of the Australia Network tender processes. As the Questions on Notice go to matters being considered by the Australian Federal Police and Australian National Audit Office, it would not be appropriate to comment.