Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Johnston, Minister for Justice and Customs. I refer the minister to reports that the federal member for Bonner, Mr Ross Vasta, has repaid $24,000 worth of entitlements to the Commonwealth. Can the minister indicate whether the need for this repayment was identified through the Australian Federal Police investigation into the ‘Printgate’ affair involving Mr Vasta and his Queensland Liberal colleagues Mr Andrew Laming and Mr Gary Hardgrave? Given the absence of an AFP statement about the repayment, can the minister advise whether the investigation into Mr Vasta’s activities will continue even after he has repaid the money? Will Mr Laming and Mr Hardgrave also be given the opportunity to repay money that they may have allegedly misused before the AFP investigation is finalised?