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

My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. In his answer to my question yesterday the minister told the Senate that he knew his six-star board and lodgings at Perisher were being provided free of charge by the former Carr government minister, Mr Eddie Obeid, while he was staying there. That being so, why did the minister wait until this week—some eight years after staying there—to declare Mr Obeid's generous hospitality in his pecuniary interest register?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I thank Senator Abetz for following up on his question from yesterday because it gives me an opportunity to point out what was on the news last night. What was on the news last night was very entertaining if you watched the Channel 10 news. Hugh Riminton did an article on what Senator Abetz had been asking me about yesterday. What did Mr Riminton says right at the end? He said, 'I have been talking to a senior opposition spokesperson'. And you know what Mr Riminton said they said? 'We know there is nothing in it.' Given up by your own side, Senator Abetz.

I am not in business and I do not have shares in a company with Mr Obeid like some people in this chamber, but I am not suggesting that there is anything inappropriate in that. But let me be clear about this: I have complied with all the requirements. I reject absolutely the smear from those who claimed they were starting the year with a positive agenda to sell, claimed that they were going to be on the policies, but you were given up by your own side. Senior frontbencher tells senior journalist, we know there is nothing in it. Feel free to keep firing away the questions, because your own side have given you up, Senator Abetz. We know there is nothing in it.(Time expired)

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

Talking about giving people up, it was in fact Mr Obeid that gave Senator Conroy up at the ICAC inquiry, which then forced the minister to rush to amend his pecuniary interest register.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! No statements. The question.

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

I assume the clock will be reset?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, you made a statement. If you make a statement—

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

You called order, Mr President. The time is now out. You called order.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I think there was about 15 seconds on the clock. You have got 15 seconds. That is the problem with people giving statements at the front of a question. The statement then takes up that time, apart from it being disorderly.

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

My question is: if, as the minister claims, he was not required to make a declaration at the time, why has he made one now and, for good measure, on two separate registers?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a repeat of the question from yesterday. I have complied with all of the requirements—in fact I have gone further. I have lodged, even when not required, with both, as you have correctly identified. What we have here is that—as a senior coalition frontbencher told Hugh Riminton last night—there is nothing in it. Those opposite and Senator Abetz can continue to fire away, but it is nothing more than a distraction from their lack of policies, from the debacle this morning. What did the headline of the Daily Telegraph say today, 'Tony goes Troppo'?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, you just need to address the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe that I have been absolutely addressing the question, Mr President, but I accept your suggestion and I invite those opposite to continue wasting the Senate's time.

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

Does the minister now claim that his luxury accommodation at Perisher was a gift from Minister Burke when he knew at the time it came courtesy of Mr Obeid? Why was Minister Burke not mentioned in his declaration and why did Mr Burke not mention this gift to Senator Conroy in his declaration?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will try and keep track of that trail as I—

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

I can understand that it is complicated for you.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is nothing complicated at all other than, as a senior coalition frontbencher told Hugh Riminton last night, there is nothing in it. I have complied with the requirements, as I have said publicly in a statement that I made as well as what I lodged, I was invited by Minister Burke. And that has been said to Hugh Riminton by a senior coalition frontbencher: we know there is nothing in it. So I do not think there is a lot more I can add and I do not want to waste the Senate's time, so I am very comfortable to sit down at this point.