Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

I think I have already indicated that it is Senator Santoro’s intention to speak to the Senate tonight about this matter. I am not in a position to confirm what is said by Senator Ludwig about the declarations by Senator Santoro upon his ascension to the Senate; I have not checked his register from back in 2002, when he was a backbench senator. The responsibility on all senators is to observe the Register of Senators’ Interests. I expect that all senators will ensure that they maintain the currency of their declarations of senators’ interests. But, as Leader of the Government in the Senate, just as the Prime Minister said, I do not spend every day checking that every senator, whether on this side of the chamber or across the chamber, is maintaining the register of their interests. It should go without saying that all senators should observe the resolution of the Senate passed in 1994 to ensure that they do register their pecuniary interests and ensure that that register is maintained properly and accurately.