Senator Bob Brown:

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 12 April 2012:

(1) For the 2009 10, 2010 11 and 2011 12 financial years, listed separately, what approvals have been granted for the provision of assistance to ministers to defend legal proceedings, where such proceedings have arisen out of the performance of their ministerial duties or their position as minister, including details of the: (a) minister; (b) cost; and (c) case name.

(2) Which of the approvals provided in response to part (1) have been tabled in accordance with the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question

(1)—

2009-10

(a) The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, then Minister for Health and Ageing (b) $35,515.75 (this figure includes the costs of a $22,500 settlement) (c) Proceedings brought by Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Limited.

(a) The Hon Alexander Downer, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs (b) $12,158.39 (c) Waston & others v. AWB Ltd.

(a) The Hon Kevin Rudd MP, then Prime Minister (b) $7253.85 (c) Proceedings brought by Miss Lucy (Xiaoshuang) Lu.

2010-11

(a) The Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Former Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

(b) $109,720.20 (this figure includes the $63,333 that was paid on behalf of Mr Andrews towards Dr Haneef's legal costs).

(c) Proceedings brought by Dr Mohamed Haneef.

(a) The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth (b) Nil costs to date (c) Proceedings brought by Platinum Insulation Wholesalers in relation to the Home Insulation Program.

(a) The Hon Greg Combet MP, then Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (b) Nil costs to date (c) Proceedings brought by Platinum Insulation Wholesalers in relation to the Home Insulation Program.

2011-12

(a) The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister (b) Nil costs to date (c) Proceedings brought by Ulla-Maija Katriina Dunkerley.

(a) Senator The Hon Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (b) Nil costs to date (c) Proceedings brought by Minter Ellison on behalf of a number of claimants in relation to the suspension of the live export trade.

(2) Subregulation 18(a) of the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations 1997 (the Regulations) provides that the Attorney-General must:

(a) inform the Parliament of each decision to pay assistance under this Part [Part 3 of the Regulations], including reasons for the decision and any limits on expenditure. In order to comply with subregulation 18(a) a statement is tabled in both houses of Parliament when the Attorney-General approves a grant of assistance. A statement was tabled in Parliament for all of the grants approved in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Below is information on the grants approved in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, including the date that the Attorney-General approved the grant and the dates that the suregulation 18(a) statement was tabled in Parliament.

2009-10

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, then Minister for Health and Ageing, Approval date: 20 August 2009, Senate tabling date: 14 September 2009, House of Representatives tabling date: 14 September 2009.

The Hon Alexander Downer MP, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Approval date: 4 November 2009, Senate tabling date: 18 November 2009, House of Representatives tabling date: 17 November 2009.

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP, then Prime Minister, Approval date: 17 May 2010.

Senate tabling date: 15 June 2010, House of Representatives tabling date: 27 May 2010.

2010-11

The Hon Kevin Andrews MP, Former Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

Approval date: 27 July 2010 Senate Tabling date: 29 September 2010, House of Representatives tabling date: 29 September 2010.

The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Approval date: 21 December 2010, Senate tabling date: 8 February 2011, House of Representatives tabling date: 8 February 2011.

The Hon Greg Combet MP, then Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Approval date 21 December 2010, Senate tabling date: 8 February 2011, House of Representatives tabling date: 8 February 2011.

2011-12

The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister, Approval date: 1 November 2011, Senate tabling date: 25 November 2011, House of Representatives tabling date: 24 November 2011.

Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Approval date: 13 February 2012, Senate tabling date: 27 February 2012, House of Representatives tabling date: 27 February 2012.