Senate debates

Monday, 29 July 2019

Questions without Notice

Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction

2:24 pm

Photo of Catryna BilykCatryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Birmingham. In a letter dated 24 July 2019, responding to a question taken on notice, Senator Birmingham said:

Minister Taylor has always declared his interests as required under both the House Register of Interests and the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

Does the minister stand by this statement?

2:25 pm

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | | Hansard source

To the best of my knowledge, and consistent with the statement the member for Hume gave to the house this morning, yes.

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

Senator Bilyk, a supplementary question?

Photo of Catryna BilykCatryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

In May, Minister Taylor acknowledged that he had failed to declare that he was a director and a shareholder in the company called JRAT International, saying, 'It should have been'. Does the minister still stand by his statement that Minister Taylor has always declared his interests as required under both the house register of interests and the Ministerial Code of Conduct?

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | | Hansard source

I refer to the previous answer.

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

Senator Bilyk, a final supplementary question?

Photo of Catryna BilykCatryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Given Minister Taylor has acknowledged his directorship and interests in JRAT International should have been declared, will the minister finally admit he should have made his interest in Jam Land known when he met with the minister's office, the department and members of the compliance unit about a matter which would have had a material impact on that company?

2:26 pm

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | | Hansard source

Once again, in relation to the interest in Jam Land and its relationship with the interest in Gufee, that was detailed quite clearly in the member's disclosure, which the member for Hume took the parliament through in his statement to the House of Representatives this morning.