Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:46 pm
My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos. I refer to the Cabinet Secretary's categorical assurance to the Senate on 2 May 2016 that he never participated in or witnessed discussions regarding the use of the Free Enterprise Foundation to channel and disguise donations by prohibited donors. I also refer to this week's report from the Independent Commission Against Corruption which explicitly accepted evidence that the scheme had been specifically raised with Senator Sinodinos. Which is correct: the report of the Independent Commission Against Corruption or Senator Sinodinos's denial?
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary
2:47 pm
I welcomed the report of the commission this week. It made no findings against me. It has been a long process; it has been over two years. I have been dragged through the mud. Some of you in this place know what it is like to be dragged through the mud. You are now attempting to smear me on the basis that you can divert attention from the failure of Senator Dastyari to answer questions in this place about his dealings with people who provided him with a personal benefit. That is the question you must answer in this place—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
Pause the clock. Order, Minister! Senator Wong, a point of order?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
The point of order is relevance. The question was, 'Which is incorrect: the Independent Commission Against Corruption report or Senator Sinodinos's denial?' Not both can stand; one of them is wrong, Senator Sinodinos. Who is wrong: the Independent Commission Against Corruption or you?
Honourable senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
Order! I remind the Cabinet Secretary of the question.
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary
I stand by my previous answer. The commission report is there. I was there as a witness, not as a person of interest. They made no findings against me—end of story.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:49 pm
I again refer to the report of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, which found that Senator Sinodinos's evidence that he was unaware that the foundation had become a major donor was 'difficult to accept'. If the Independent Commission Against Corruption does not accept the senator's denial, why should this Senate?
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary
The commission found nothing against me. There were no findings against me.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary
We can go on like this for ages. I am willing to give Senator Dastyari my time in this chamber to answer questions, which he has not done to date.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:50 pm
Does the senator agree with the ICAC report's finding that his evidence was 'difficult to accept'? Are there any statements that the senator has made to the Senate which are inconsistent with the report of the Independent Commission Against Corruption?
Arthur Sinodinos NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary
I accept the report and its findings. I do not cavil with any of it—or with anything I have said in this place.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
They didn't believe you, Arthur. They didn't believe you. They said they did not accept—
Stephen Parry President
Order on my left! Senator Wong, you have asked your question.
Senator Wong interjecting—
Order! Senator Wong, I do think you need to withdraw that.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Which question?
Stephen Parry President
I am not going to repeat what was said, but you did cast an unparliamentary remark against a—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
There is an inconsistency between what was said to the chamber and what was said to the commission. Which bit should I withdraw? I withdraw 'lie'.