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

Again, as I advised the Senate earlier, information was provided by the department, after seeking evidence of rental payments by former Senator Day in relation to his electorate office. He subsequently provided information to the department—for the first time in February this year—about vendor-financing arrangements underpinning his sale of the 77 Fullarton Road property. Related financial arrangements caused concerns about whether then Senator Day in fact remained connected to the Fullerton Road property. Importantly, subsequent to that, being aware of all of the information, the department advised me that it was open to me and that it would not be a conflict to make rental payments under the lease from 1 March forward. The issue, to be frank, was not a concern to the department at that point in time. As I have said previously, it is not a matter for the government to make judgements on who is eligible and who is not eligible to sit in the Senate. (Time expired)