Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Birmingham. I refer to the use by the minister for emissions reduction of doctored travel costs in official ministerial correspondence to the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore. Minister Taylor has told the parliament that the document containing the incorrect figures was 'was drawn directly from the City of Sydney's website, it was publicly available'. This claim was repeated by Minister Birmingham yesterday when he told the ABC that 'the information was sourced from … the City of Sydney website.' Does the minister stand by this statement?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the Minister representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Birmingham.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is the advice of Minister Taylor.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're so loyal to his claims.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, your colleague is on her feet. Senator Keneally, a supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister's own department has confirmed at Senate estimates that the department had nothing to do with the doctored figures ending up in official ministerial correspondence. Given the doctored travel costs didn't come from his department, where did they come from?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer the senator once again to Mr Taylor's statement that clearly outlines where he says they come from.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Drive that bus over him.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, I'm going to ask you to count to 30 from now on after I call your name. Senator Keneally, a final supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When asked where the doctored document came from, Mr Birmingham told the ABC:

… all I can point to there is the statement that has been made …

Why has Minister Taylor failed to make public any document that confirms his version of events and why is the minister willing to simply ignore all other evidence and accept Minister Taylor's word for it?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again, Minister Taylor has made a statement that detailed where the documents came from. That's the information that I have to hand that I present to the Senate as the minister representing him.