Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 24 May 2011:

(1) Has the department or any agency for which you are responsible: (a) had discussions or negotiations with Solaris Paper Pty Ltd regarding the procurement of Solaris Paper toilet paper within the past 12 months; and/or (b) entered into any contracts with Solaris Paper Pty Ltd for the procurement of Solaris Paper toilet paper within the past 12 months; if so, can details be provided for each contract detailing: (i) what was the length of the contact, (ii) what was the value of the contract, (iii) whether it was the department or an agency (please state which agency) that entered into the contract, and (iv) whether the contract satisfies the Government's procurement policy.

(2) Has the department or any agency for which you are responsible procured paper or tissue products directly or indirectly from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) or its affiliates.

(3) Would the purchasing of products from APP and its Australian affiliate Solaris Paper Pty Ltd constitute a breach of the requirement under section 44 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 that the Federal Government be 'effective and ethical' in the use of its resources.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Special Minister of State has supplied the following answer to the honourable senator' s question:

(1) (a) to (b) No

(2) No

(3) Without evidence of non-compliance with Government policies, there is no breach.