Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
3:00 pm
My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos. Yesterday the Cabinet Secretary undertook to check his recollection in relation to the declaration of interests by Mr Turnbull during cabinet discussions on tax transparency matters. Can the Cabinet Secretary now advise whether such declarations have been made?
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary
3:01 pm
I am not going to make a habit of commenting on cabinet deliberations, but I can assure the honourable senator that the Prime Minister, since he has been Prime Minister, has done the right thing.
Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. On how many occasions has Mr Turnbull been required to absent himself from cabinet discussions due to a conflict or potential conflict of interest?
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary
I have nothing to add to my first answer, and I cannot comment on the period during the Abbott government as I was not cabinet secretary at that time.
Jacinta Collins Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary
3:02 pm
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I was not asking with respect to the Abbott government period. Minister, I refer to Mr Turnbull's statement:
When I became a minister, all of my investments were approved under the ministerial code of conduct by the secretary of Prime Minister and cabinet.
Can the Cabinet Secretary outline this approval process? Were all Mr Turnbull's investments approved by the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet declared in related cabinet discussions, as required by the published cabinet handbook? (Time expired)
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary
I cannot add to my first answer. All I will say in relation to this general topic is that I am aware as a member of AustralianSuper that funds are invested overseas in the sorts of funds we are talking about here and full tax is paid—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The point of order is direct relevance. The question simply asked whether or not Mr Turnbull's investments were approved by the secretary of PM&C as required by the cabinet handbook.
Stephen Parry President
The Cabinet Secretary did say that he cannot expand upon his first answer. Do you have anything else to add, Cabinet Secretary.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.