George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, and let me emphasise once more, lest it be lost on Senator Conroy or others: our concern is that this was the payment of a personal debt. We make no criticism of the payment of a properly disclosed political donation. In fact, the very reason we have a regime that regulates and obliges the disclosure of political donations is to protect against the appearance of influence. But this is the payment of a personal debt, not a political donation, and what the parliament is entitled to know is: what was the specific nature of the debt? Was an invoice issued and on what date was the invoice issued? If an invoice was issued, Senator Dastyari should table it.

What were the available payment methods and what method did the senator elect to use to receive the payment? Was the payment of the debt made directly to the Department of Finance by the Top Education Institute or was it paid to Senator Dastyari or was it paid to some other person or entity? If it was paid to another person or entity, what was the name of that person or entity?

Was there only one payment or were there multiple payments? When was the debt discharged? Was the payment receipted and, if the payment was receipted, will Senator Dastyari table a copy of the receipt? Assuming the Top Education Institute made the payment directly to Senator Dastyari rather than to the Department of Finance, again we are entitled to know what the method of the payment was, whether there was only one payment or whether there were multiple payments and in what amount. If the payment was made into a bank account, what was the identity of the bank account to which the payment was made and who controls that bank account? If the person who controls the bank account is someone other than Senator Dastyari, who is that person or entity and what are Senator Dastyari's links to that person or entity? And, if such a payment was made to a bank account, what was the date of the payment or payments and the amount of the payment or payments? If the payment was made directly to the Department of Finance by Top Education Institute, how was the invoice brought to the attention of Top Education?

What conversations or correspondence were entered into between Senator Dastyari, his staff, the Department of Finance and the Top Education Institute? When and how did Senator Dastyari become aware that the payment had been made?

Senator Conroy interjecting—

Senator O'Sullivan interjecting—