Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, most egregiously, once again, Mr Speaker—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You may proceed.

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

notwithstanding the comments from the member for Maribyrnong today, doubling down on his comments from 24 November, when he implied that my conduct as the former minister with procurement was corrupt. He was aided and abetted by the former Fairfax papers. On 1 December, the minister also advised the House that he had appointed the eminent Dr Ian Watt to review those contracts to ensure there was no real or perceived conflict of interest. The minister said at the time:

It will provide important independence as we seek to get to the bottom of the matter of whether there was any misconduct.

Dr Watt reported on 6 March—

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sorry to interrupt the member for Fadden. You will get the call again. Members will resume their seats. I cannot see what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing or saying. I ask her to resume her seat. If she has an issue to raise, I will hear from her. We cannot have interactions going on in the chamber while I am hearing a personal explanation from the member for Fadden. Members, if you wish to remain in the chamber, do so quietly and in your places.

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Don't you talk, sucker!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McEwen will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for McEwen then left the chamber.

Order! I will hear from individuals when they get the call, otherwise members will just remain in their places, quietly.

Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Maribyrnong appointed Dr Watt as the eminent Australian to 'provide important independence to get to bottom of the matter of whether there was any misconduct'. They were the minister's words in the House on 1 December. Dr Watt was appointed, and he reported to the minister on the 6 March, three weeks ago. The government has now released a report, through the Sydney Morning Herald, on the weekend. The report says at page 4: 'The taskforce did not find clear misconduct within the 95 procurement processes.' After four months—at what cost we will find out in estimates—and multiple interviews working through multiple departments, Dr Watt has found zero misconduct with 95 procurements. That's where the matter should rest.