Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
2:41 pm
My question is to the minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Last week, the Treasurer announced the appointment of Mr Brendan Crotty as the inaugural chair of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation. Can the minister confirm that, as a director of Brickworks, Mr Crotty oversaw $650,000 in donations to the Liberal Party?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance
2:42 pm
I cannot confirm that. I'm not aware of the information to respond to that question, so I'll take that on notice.
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
Can the minister confirm that, as a director of Brickworks, Mr Crotty oversaw $330,000 in donations to the Free Enterprise Foundation, the focus of operations Spicer and Credo conducted by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance
On the same grounds, I'll have to take that question on notice.
Doug Cameron NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services
2:43 pm
Was the $650,000 in donations to the Liberal Party made while Mr Crotty was a director of Brickworks considered as part of the process to appoint Mr Crotty as chair of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation?
Mathias Cormann WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance
Obviously, I've taken the primary and first supplementary question on notice. Without accepting the premise of the question, let me say that all appointments that are made by the Turnbull government—as previously by the Abbott government—are made entirely on merit and on the basis of being able to do the job in the public interest. The appointment that was made by the government here was a high-quality appointment, and we've got high expectations of the job that will be performed. I'll see whether the Treasurer wants to add anything to that answer.