Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The assumption underpinning that question is false. At the time when the heads of agreement in February 2015was executed, at the time when the lease on 1 December 2015 was executed, the Department of Finance had no concerns in relation to the ownership status of the 77 Fullarton Road property—no concerns whatsoever. Indeed, as late as 18 February 2016 my department, the Department of Finance, advised me that it was open to me—this is also covered in my very comprehensive statement—to pay rent in relation to this office from 1 March 2016 onwards. The senator, with all due respect, is seeking to quote out of context advice in 2014 which was no longer relevant later in 2015.

Again, let me say that then Senator Day was not Robinson Crusoe when it came to expressing concerns about departmental preferences— (Time expired)