Senate debates Questions without Notice
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
2:24 pm
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?
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
2:25 pm
To the best of my knowledge, and consistent with the statement the member for Hume gave to the house this morning, yes.
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
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?
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
I refer to the previous answer.
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
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?
Simon Birmingham SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
2:26 pm
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.