Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On what date did the Prime Minister approve the appointment of her chief of staff? Was the Prime Minister informed about her chief of staff's shareholding in a food industry lobbying firm before or after his appointment?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can inform the Senate again that all the appropriate steps were taken to ensure propriety was in place and that there was not and would not be a conflict of interest in relation to the role of my chief of staff and the company Australian Public Affairs. It was all done in a very thorough and diligent manner. Can I also point out to the Senate that it is typical of the opposition to attack individuals by imputing impropriety where none exists. Let me remind the Senate—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President: I raise the issue of relevance. I did not ask about the conflict of interest. I asked a very simple question about date of approval of appointment by the Prime Minister and whether the Prime Minister was informed of the shareholding before or after the appointment. I did not ask about a conflict of interest.

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

The minister has one minute and ten seconds remaining. I draw the minister's attention to the question.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I have informed the Senate, all of the appropriate processes and approval processes were put in place relating to the appointment of my chief of staff, and the typical tactic from the opposition—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President: I raise the issue of relevance. Again we ask you to draw the minister's attention to the question, which was specifically on dates—nothing to do with an attack on what we are saying and nothing to do with admitting to what was happening in the process. The question was about the date on which those approvals were made.

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

With one minute and ten seconds remaining for the minister to address the question, I did draw the minister's attention to the question. The minister still has 50 seconds remaining to comply with the direction given.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can advise the Senate that all information around my chief of staff was given to the Prime Minister's office in accordance with appropriate timing. Now, interestingly, we see yet again this attack on individuals from the opposition, rather than dealing with substantive policy issues. The substantive policy issues around the taking down of the website are those that instigated this line of questioning from the opposition.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President: I again raise the issue of relevance to the specific question, with 11 seconds now remaining in the answer.

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

I have drawn the minister's attention to the question. The minister has 11 seconds remaining to address it. Minister, I again draw your attention to the question.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition leader asked me about timing. I have informed the Senate that the appropriate advice was given in accordance with the usual timing procedures.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask the minister to take on notice those aspects of the question she refused to answer and I ask a supplementary question. When did the minister's chief of staff submit a statement of private interest to her and to the Special Minister of State? Did that statement disclose his shareholding in a food industry lobbying firm or not?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can indicate to the chamber that the proper processes were followed in terms of the timing—when I was provided with advice from my chief of staff. I think perhaps it might be useful to outline the facts for those on the other side who may not have been listening to my contributions this week relating to this matter. Those outside this chamber may also be interested to avail themselves of the facts—facts which are somewhat lacking in what we are seeing from the opposition in relation to this matter.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President: I raise the issue of relevance. Can you please draw the minister to consider the question which she was asked regarding timing and process—what she knew at what time.

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

I do draw the minister's attention to the question. The minister has 16 seconds remaining.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I answered the question in relation to timing. There is no conflict of interest.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President: I again raise the question of relevance. The minister was asked a specific question about when she received the statement of private interest. She should answer it.

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

I cannot instruct a minister. I have said this on numerous occasions. I cannot instruct a minister how to answer a question. That is not possible under the standing orders. However, I have drawn to the minister's attention already, as a result of points of order, the need to address the question. The minister has six seconds remaining.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have answered the question. It was given at the appropriate time.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I refer to the minister's previous claim that she put arrangements in place at the commencement of her chief of staff's employment to prevent a conflict with his lobbying interests. Why was the minister not aware of those arrangements when she misled the Senate on Tuesday?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate knows that I corrected the record at the earliest opportunity. There is no conflict of interest. My chief of staff and his wife have shares in a family business. Many couples do. My chief of staff is not involved in the operation of that business. I refer to a statement from Ms Cain last night, who said:

Since last September, Australian Public Affairs has not made representations to either Health Minister, their offices, or the Health Department; and has made no representations to any other Minister of the Commonwealth in relation to the Health portfolio.

There is no conflict of interest. My chief of staff is not involved in the operation of the business, and the business itself does not make representations to the health department.