Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

Wasn't that a sterling defence? I would love to have Senator Furner on my side! I would like in the time available to me to reflect somewhat on the member for Dobell. I have gone back to read his maiden speech. His maiden speech is very interesting because it tells us a lot about the member for Dobell.

Senator Brandis interjecting—

I will not go there, Senator Brandis, on the issue of maidens! The speech starts off—surprise, surprise!—by saying:

At this stage, I need to acknowledge the fantastic advice and assistance I received from—

none other than—

Mark Arbib, Karl Bitar and Sam Dastyari from the New South Wales ALP head office.

Of course Senator Arbib is the most likely person for the member for Dobell to have consulted with on this issue. If I had to put my money on the person who is most likely to have brokered the deal to pay the legal costs then I think that I would be safe in putting my money on Senator Arbib. Of course, there are a number of other issues. I know that Senator Ronaldson and Senator Brandis have been pursuing these matters, but it is interesting to note, just on the legal costs, the belated declaration in the register of members interests that:

In May 2011, the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) paid a sum of money this in settlement of a legal matter to which I was a party …

We have seen reports of $40,000, we have seen reports of $90,000 and we have seen reports of $150,000. But the person who could actually tell us how much the legal fees really were—they could be $150,000, they could be $200,000, they could be a quarter of a million dollars—is most likely, given what we have read in the newspaper, to be Senator Arbib. Not much happens in the New South Wales Right without Senator Arbib knowing about it or being the puppet master. He may now be quietly tucked away in sport and recreation, but he is still pulling some of those strings.