Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 20 December 2011:

(1) Since 3 December 2007, when Mr Rudd was Prime Minister or later as Foreign Minister:

(a) how many times did he visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in total;

(b) what meetings has he had with Sunland Group Limited or its representatives in either the UAE or Australia;

(c) has he ever received free accommodation or hospitality at any property owned or controlled by the Sunland Group Limited in either Australia or the UAE;

(d) what representations have been made by him to any of the ruling families of the UAE, its Government or to individual Emirates, on behalf of Sunland Group Limited or its related entities;

(e) has he attended any meetings with any:

  (i) members or representatives of the Al-Qasimi royal family with Soheil Abedian also in attendance,

  (ii) members or representatives of the Al Maktoum Royal Family with Soheil Abedian also in attendance at such meeting,

  (iii) members or representatives of the Al Nahyan Royal Family with Soheil Abedian also in attendance at such meeting,

  (iv) members of the Gulf Australia Business Council with Soheil Abedian or Sahba Abedian also in attendance, and

  (v) consular staff of the UAE Embassy in Australia with either Soheil Abedian or Sahba Abedian in attendance; and

(f) has he ever requested Soheil Abedian or Sahba Abedian to make representations on behalf of himself or the Australian Government in respect of the UAE vote for Australia's United Nations Security Council seat bid; if so, what was the nature of these representations.

(2) What representations has the Minister personally made on behalf of Australia to the UAE in respect of the interests of Matthew Joyce and Marcus Lee.

(3) Is the Minister aware of evidence given in an open court, under oath, in the Victorian Supreme Court hearing of Sunland Waterfront (BVI) and Others v. Prudentia Investments Pty Ltd and Others which shows clearly that Matthew Joyce, Marcus Lee and their co-accused are the innocent victims of a false complaint.

(4) Has the Minister brought recent developments in the Victorian Supreme Court hearing of Sunland Waterfront (BVI) and Others v. Prudentia Investments Pty Ltd and Others to the attention of relevant authorities in the UAE; if not, when will he do so.

Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

(1) (a) 5 visits, including one stopover (not including transits);

(b) The records of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Office of the Foreign Minister indicate that the Minister has not had any meetings with the Sunland Group or anyone claiming to represent Sunland. This has been checked against the list of Sunland executives as provided by DFAT. It is estimated that Sunland has up to 1,000 employees;

(c) No;

(d) None;

(e) (i) – (iv) The Minister has no record or recollection of any meeting with members or representatives of these families with Soheil Abedian also in attendance;

  (v) No;

(f) No.

(2) Mr Rudd made representations on the case to the UAE Foreign Minister on 9 June 2011. These representations have been followed up by Mr Rudd's staff as well as the Australian Embassy in the UAE.

(3) The Minister has been briefed in general terms on the cases of Mr Joyce and Mr Lee.

(4) Through respective legal representatives, the transcript of the civil court case in Victoria has been brought to the attention of relevant authorities in the UAE.