Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is directed to Senator Coonan, in her capacity as minister representing the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. I refer her to the minister’s signature at clause 5(17) of the T3 prospectus, which says that he has given his consent to its issue and lodgement with the ASIC. Can the minister indicate exactly when Senator Minchin first sighted a draft of the prospectus? Did the minister and/or his department request changes to the draft as a condition of granting consent? What changes were requested? When exactly did the minister give his consent to the prospectus being issued, given that the announcement was delayed by a couple of hours this morning? Does the minister’s consent mean that the government accepts the damning assessment of the suitability of appointing Mr Cousins to the Telstra board contained in the T3 prospectus that Senator Minchin signed off on?