Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Why did the minister advise the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee last Wednesday that her chief of staff had resigned as a director upon commencing his employment when ASIC records show that he remained a director of the lobbying company until 13 February 2014—five months after he started in the minister's office?

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

As I did indeed indicate to the Senate estimates committee last week, I was advised by my former chief of staff that he had instructed his accountants to remove him from all directorships. He was removed from the APA directorship, which is the lobbying company.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Why did the minister claim her chief of staff had resigned as a director when he had not? Does the minister still maintain that having a chief of staff who was a director and 50 per cent shareholder of a lobbying company with industry clients who operate in her area of ministerial responsibilities is not a conflict of interest?

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Throw him out!

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

Order! I remind honourable senators that interjections across the chamber are disorderly.

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

As I have informed the Senate on a number of occasions to date, I was advised by my former chief of staff that he had directed his accountants to remove him from all directorships. I have also outlined to the Senate on several occasions the undertakings that were required of my former chief of staff to ensure that there was a strict separation so that there could be no real or perceived conflict of interest.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Will the minister table the letter that she claims her chief of staff wrote to her at the commencement of his employment outlining measures to deal with the many conflicts of interest between his business affairs and his responsibilities as a ministerial chief of staff?

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

Again, for the Senate: there were no conflicts of interest—

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

Not even the Prime Minister agrees with you!

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

I would perhaps invite those opposite—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Just wait a minute. Minister, you are entitled to be heard in silence—resume your seat.

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

You are the only one who is still saying that—so are you right or is Tony Abbott right?

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Those on my right and on my left: if you wish to debate the issue the time is at the end of question time. The minister is entitled to be heard in silence. When there is silence we will proceed.

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

Thank you very much, Mr President. As I have indicated to the Senate on many occasions now, there was no conflict of interest.

Senator Wong interjecting—

That is exactly what it is about: there was no conflict of interest.

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

That's not what the PM says; you can't even get your lines right!

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

Order! Minister, resume your seat. If people wish to debate the issue I remind them they can do that at the end of question time.

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

Thank you very much, Mr President. I have advised the Senate on several occasions now of the arrangements surrounding the employment of my former chief of staff which ensured that there was no conflict of interest. For several hours, from recollection, last week Senate Wong did indeed ask—as did other senators—a range of questions relating to these matters. I would suggest that most of these— (Time expired)