Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I table responses to questions taken on notice during question time on 12 November 2018 asked by Senators Carr and Farrell relating to the eligibility of the member for Dunkley and to Tourism Australia, and I seek leave to have the documents incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The documents read as follows—

Dear Mr President

I write with regard to questions I took on notice from Senator Carr during Question Time on Monday, 12 November 2018 on the matter of the Member for Dunkley's eligibility to sit in the House of Representatives.

The Australian Research Council grant that has been referred to in media reports and on which the Senator's question is based, is a grant to the University of Melbourne. It is not a grant to any company. Under the relevant grant program, universities partner with the private sector on research projects.

The private sector entities do not receive the grants; in fact, they have to contribute in cash or in-kind to the relevant research projects.

I have copied this letter to Senator Carr.

Kind regards

Mathias Cormann

Minister for Finance and the Public Service

12 November 2018

Dear Mr President

I write with regard to a question I took on notice from Senator Farrell during Question Time on Monday, 12 November 2018, regarding the publication of contracts from Tourism Australia on the AustTender website.

Tourism Australia's response to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) Report of 2008 made clear that the contracts referred to by Senator Farrell were entered into in 2005 and 2006. I have been advised that the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines 2004 did not apply to Tourism Australia prior to 2005.

The obligation for publishing contracts on the AusTender website is the date the procurement commenced, not the date the contracts were entered into. The Department of Finance is working with Tourism Australia to determine when the procurement processes for the contracts in question commenced.

I have directed the Department of Finance to work with Tourism Australia to ensure that it understands the obligations that applied to the procurements in question. The Department of Finance will continue to assist Tourism Australia as required to meet their obligations.

It is important to note that the 2008 ANAO Report referred to by Senator Farrell did not raise any concerns relating to non-reporting of the contracts audited.

I have copied this letter to Senator Farrell.

Kind regards

Mathias Cormann

Minister for Finance and the Public Service

13 November 2018