Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I note paragraph 2.48 of the report on the estimates proceedings of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee. That paragraph relates to Senator Bob Carr's Sydney electorate office. The issue canvassed at estimates was how and why Senator Carr's electorate office could also serve as the principal place of business for RJ Carr Pty Ltd, his former lobbying company. This was indeed the case up until 24 May, the day that my colleague Senator Scott Ryan raised this issue at Senate estimates—when, coincidentally, the principal place of business of RJ Carr Pty Ltd was transferred to an address in Burwood. At the estimates proceedings of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Senator Carr made light of this. The coalition was also concerned that Senator Carr had decided to retain his sole share in RJ Carr Pty Ltd, a private company, contrary to the provisions dealing with shareholdings in the Prime Minister's Standards of ministerial ethics. Those provisions include the statement:

… these Standards require that Ministers divest themselves of investments and other interests in any public or private company or business …

I will also quote briefly from a press release put out by another colleague, Senator Lee Rhiannon. She has been concerned about Senator Carr's potential conflict of interest. On 5 March, Senator Rhiannon said:

There's a public expectation that Mr Bob Carr should not be free to move seamlessly between big business and politics without disclosing whose interests he has been representing. The Gillard government must manage Mr Carr's entry to federal parliament and the contacts and information he has gained while as Premier and then lobbying for big business. The revolving door between business and politics allows access and influence which is not extended to the ordinary Australian.

I put to the Senate that Senator Carr's use of his former business premises as the principal place of business for RJ Carr Pty Ltd, as well as his electorate office and, in particular, his retention of his shareholding in the company, tell us a number of things which are very significant. It tells us that Senator Carr sees his job as Minister for Foreign Affairs as just a temporary gig before he moves seamlessly back into lobbying. Why else would he not move offices? Why else would he retain his ownership of RJ Carr Pty Ltd in contravention of the PM's Standards of ministerial ethics? Why else would he not simply wind this company up? The answer, to use Senator Rhiannon's words, is that Senator Carr not only wishes to move seamlessly from big business to politics; he then wants to move seamlessly back into big business again. Talk about a revolving door between business and politics!

I believe that Senator Carr has not properly addressed these issues. Indeed, his remarks to date show either a profound ignorance of, or a profound contempt for, ministerial standards. The answers to the questions on this issue which were taken on notice at estimates will be very interesting for the Senate to observe. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.