Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sinodinos. I refer to the Assistant Treasurer's responsibility for business law and practice and a statement of ministerial standards which demands that ministers, in their private conduct, must uphold the laws and demonstrate high standards of personal integrity. Can the Assistant Treasurer confirm he was a director of Australian Water Holdings and an office-bearer of the New South Wales Liberal Party at the time Australian Water Holdings was making major donations to the Liberal Party? Does the minister consider that this conduct merits referral to ASIC?

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

Mr President, on a point of order: the question relates to matters that were clearly in the life of Mr Sinodinos, not Senator Sinodinos, let alone Minister Sinodinos. In short, the matters that the honourable senator seeks to trawl through this chamber have nothing to do—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Can you just stop for once? Mr President, the short point of order is this: all the matters raised by the honourable senator in her—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Does it ever stop? The point of order, very simply, is—

Senator Wong interjecting—

I know the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is embarrassed that two of her questions were ruled out of order today. I suggest, Mr President, that you should follow and rule this question out of order as well—albeit clearly spoonfed to the senator by the leader, who is now clearly embarrassed.

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

Order! That is debating the issue.

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

Mr President—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! I need silence on both sides. Senator Conroy.

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

Mr President, on the point of order: clearly Senator Abetz did not listen to the question. The question was about certain corporate conduct and whether the matter should be referred to ASIC. It does not matter whether it was in the previous life of a senator; this is a matter relating directly to corporate conduct, and the minister has responsibility for corporate law. I ask you to dismiss the point of order and ask Senator Abetz to listen to the question in future.

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

Order! I have already made it clear that the minister need only respond to those parts of the question that pertain to his ministerial responsibility. In respect of the points of order, if there are parts of that question which the minister can address I invite him to do so.

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the member opposite has any relevant information they can refer it to ASIC. Under the ASIC rules I cannot interfere with their investigations.

Senator Cormann interjecting—

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

Senator Cormann, it is not the time to be debating this now.

Senator Wong interjecting—

Senator Cormann and Senator Wong, if you wish to debate this, three o'clock is the time.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senator Bernardi and Senator Collins, it does not help question time when senators interject across the floor.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Can the Assistant Treasurer confirm that, while he held office in Australian Water Holdings and the Liberal Party, the company was bundling up its donations to the party and charging them back to Sydney Water as expenses? Does the minister consider this conduct merits referral to ASIC?

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

Again I rule that part of the question out of order that has no—

Senator Sinodinos interjecting—

Wait a minute. I have not called you, Minister.

Senator Conroy interjecting—

Yes, but I do give people the call, if you listen to the way this chamber operates. I have ruled that part of the question that has no bearing on your ministerial responsibility out of order. Only that part that might refer to your ministerial responsibility—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! If you wish to argue that, argue it later.

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is the same question. I repeat my previous answer.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Can the Assistant Treasurer confirm that, at the time his company was using Sydney Water money to make donations to his party, his company was unable to pay its tax commitments as they fell due? Does the minister consider this conduct merits referral to ASIC?

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

Again, I apply the same ruling as previously. I call the minister. There is no response from the minister.