Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for that question. I am looking forward to you solving financial illiteracy on that other side, Senator Sinodinos. I did see, following my statement, a report in a newspaper which believed that there was some sort of scandal and that the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet had intervened in the process. It did cause me some concern. Let me be very clear about this: I requested the police investigation direct to the departmental secretary of the Foreign Affairs and Trade. He then had a discussion, I believe, with Dr Watt, and, ultimately, following that discussion, Dr Watt referred the matter to the police. Let me be very clear: after considering the legal advice I requested it.