Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. I refer to media comments from the minister's office last night claiming that the minister had nothing to declare when ERC awarded the $23 million Cyber Wardens grant. At Senate estimates today it was confirmed the Prime Minister put in place a specific conflict-of-interest protocol for the minister on matters relating to 89 Degrees East. Given the minister is under this prime ministerial direction, why did he not recuse himself from the decision to award this grant which benefits 89 Degrees East?

Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I welcome this question because I and the rest of my ministerial colleagues, I can tell you, take the Prime Minister's mandatory ministerial code of conduct very, very seriously. After my appointment as the Minister for Health and Ageing, I made all of the appropriate declarations to the Prime Minister that are required by the code. Out of an abundance of caution, that included my wife's engagement with 89 Degrees East in spite of the fact that her contract for services with that company had concluded in late 2021 in anticipation of the birth of our child. But given the possibility that she might enter a new contract for services at some point in the future, which she did, ultimately, in February of this year, arrangements are in place to manage any potential conflict, consistent with long-standing practice for ministers of both sides of politics and their spouses.

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

The minister will pause. I will hear from the deputy leader of the opposition.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order on relevance. It refers to the minister's answer to the question why did he not recuse himself from a ERC decision that his own spokesperson—

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

Order! I will hear from the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance, the minister is being clearly relevant to the question that was put before him. I get that the deputy leader is familiar with the concept of what it does look like when someone breaches the ministerial code.

Government members interjecting—

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

Order! Ministers on my right will cease interjecting immediately. Manager of opposition business.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is a completely inappropriate comment from the Leader of the House, as he knows well, and he should withdraw it.

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

To assist the House, if the Manager of Opposition Business finds that term offensive, I will ask the—

Honourable members interjecting—

He was making a statement, but if there is offence taken, my process is to—

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! To assist the House, I couldn't hear the full comment. But if there is an offensive comment made, I am just going to ask the Leader of the House—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I am asked to, on the basis of assisting the House, I withdraw.

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

Thank you. Back to the point of order from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, I am listening carefully to his answer. He is going step by step in terms of the process, in terms of what actions have been taken. He is being entirely relevant. I will ask him to continue, and I will listen carefully to make sure he is.

Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can confirm that at no time has any matter been before me for a decision about that company. Were that to happen, I would manage that in accordance with longstanding arrangements followed by both sides of politics about potential conflicts between ministers and their spouses.