Senate debates

Thursday, 16 August 2018

Questions without Notice

Great Barrier Reef Foundation

3:00 pm

Photo of Kristina KeneallyKristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. In Senate estimates the department of environment officials gave evidence that 'the quality of the people on the foundation board' gave the government 'assurance' before they handed over $444 million of public money to the private Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Can the minister confirm that recently resigned foundation director Stephen Roberts is now facing criminal charges for alleged cartel conduct relating to his time at Citigroup and that Mr Roberts has previously been hosted at the Prime Minister's residence?

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

I'm not aware of what Senator Keneally alleges. I am aware that there are criminal cartel charges laid against the CFMEU and its ACT branch secretary.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Wong, on a point of order?

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

Do I need to make a submission on direct relevance?

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

That's all you need to say, Senator Wong. Senator Cormann, I would ask you to be directly relevant to the question.

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

I was very happy to receive a question about criminal charges, and I'm also happy to confirm that if there were criminal charges laid against the CFMEU and its ACT branch secretary—

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Cormann, one needs to be directly relevant to the question. I remind you of the terms of the question asked.

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

On the point of order, I actually answered the question right up front by saying that I'm not aware of the allegations that Senator Keneally raises but that I am aware of some other matters that directly relate to an aspect of the question she asks.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Wong, on the point of order?

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

The fact that a minister is not aware of the question that he or she is asked does not give licence to say something that is demonstrably—

An honourable senator interjecting

Mr President, if I may.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

I was listening carefully, and I didn't hear any background noise, Senator Wong.

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

It's not that. It's just so boring.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

It's Thursday afternoon, senators.

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

It's Thursday afternoon. Can't you just stop talking for one minute?

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Macdonald and Senator Wong, both of you. Senator Wong, would you like to continue your point of order?

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

When he stops. He's stopped. Thank you. I'll start again. Just because a minister doesn't know something about criminal cartel behaviour of a—

An honourable senator interjecting

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Wong, I was listening carefully. If all senators would like me to insist on absolute and utter silence in the chamber at all times, I'm sure that would make it somewhat different to what it is now. I will ask senators to be silent while I hear the point of order.

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

Just because a minister doesn't know anything about, or says he doesn't know anything about, criminal charges for cartel conduct relating to a friend of the Prime Minister's does not give this minister the licence to talk about criminal action which is entirely unrelated to the grant or to any other activities. It would be a travesty if the ruling is that direct relevance means you can talk about anything if you don't know the answer to the question.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

I am prepared to rule on the point of order, if I could. The Senate several years ago required question time answers to be directly relevant. A minister can add material that is directly relevant to part of the question, but it should not be interpreted as liberally as has been put to me in this case. Minister Cormann, I would ask that you be directly relevant to the question.

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr President. As I said right up front, I am not aware of the allegations that Senator Keneally has raised. I am happy to take that part of the question on notice. I would say again, though, that the Great Barrier Reef Foundation of course is the lead charity for the Great Barrier Reef, having raised over $90 million since it was established.

Opposition senators interjecting

I am happy to take you through it. You are obviously not interested in investment in the health of the Great Barrier Reef. The foundation has raised $58.97 million from corporate and philanthropic contributions, of which $52.87 million is from the corporate sector and $6 million is from private philanthropy. The foundation has received $3.28 million from other sources, such as interest and research partners, including James Cook University and the University of Queensland. In addition, the GBRF has received pro bono and in-kind services to the value of $4.74 million from the corporate sector. In total, support from non-government sources equates to $66.689 million. The GBRF has been granted $29.71 million from government sources. This includes $22.35 million previously from the Australian government and $7.36 million from the Queensland government.

The Great Barrier Reef is a global icon and, as part of the Reef Trust partnership, their fundraising plan, of course, is designed to identify opportunities within Australia and overseas to raise additional funds for the protection of the reef. (Time expired)

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, a supplementary question.

3:04 pm

Photo of Kristina KeneallyKristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Can the minister also confirm that current foundation director Stephen Fitzgerald worked with the Prime Minister during his time at Goldman Sachs, and that another former Goldman Sachs director Keith Tuffley resigned from the foundation's board on budget day this year?

3:05 pm

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

I'm not aware of what Senator Keneally is proposing there. Even if there was a past connection, does that make the foundation an inappropriate foundation?

The Labor Party provides grants to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to support its work in relation to the health of the reef, and that is okay. The Labor government can provide grants to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation; that's okay. But we provide grants to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and, 'Oh, that's terrible, awful.' And here you are trying to besmirch people in the pursuit of your base political interests in relation to a grant that you supported. Senator Keneally came into this chamber and she voted in favour of it.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! Senators, there is one question remaining. I'll ask for silence. Senator Keneally.

3:06 pm

Photo of Kristina KeneallyKristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the minister believe it was appropriate for the Prime Minister to personally hand out half a billion dollars to a private foundation behind closed doors without a grant application or tender process just because it's run by a couple of his mates?

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

It's strange to hear a former Labor premier from New South Wales talk about mates, because we of course know all about Labor mates. We all know about Labor mates, and we know where too many of them have ended up!

This is an absolutely appropriate grant for a proper public purpose, which is a decision of the government following proper policy consideration processes of government. The government stands by this investment. It's a very important investment in the future health of the Great Barrier Reef, an incredibly important national asset. The Labor Party can continue to argue against public investment enhancing the health of the Great Barrier Reef into the future. We'll continue to implement our plan to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef can continue to be the amazing national icon that it is today.

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.