Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health. I refer to the minister's answer in question time yesterday when she informed the Senate her chief of staff has 'no connection with the food industry'. I also refer to her additional answer in the Senate last night, when she informed the Senate that her chief of staff was the former chair of the food industry lobbyist Australian Public Affairs and 'because of that previous position, he has a shareholding in the company'. When and how did the minister realise that she had misled the Senate?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can advise the chamber that at the time of Senator Wong's question yesterday I did not have every detail of information at hand.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister is entitled to be heard in silence.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. In relation to the timing question that the senator asked me, having made further checks after question time yesterday, I advise the Senate at the first opportunity that my chief of staff was a shareholder of the company APA.

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order, senators on my left. When there is silence on my left I will ask the minister to continue.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I advised the Senate at the first opportunity that my chief of staff is a shareholder of the company APA. As the Leader of the Opposition would know, I also did the opposition the courtesy of advising them of the matter that I was going to raise during the adjournment period. I can also indicate to the Senate that my chief of staff receives no income from that shareholding.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister explain how her chief of staff maintaining a shareholding in a lobbying company that operates in the minister's area of responsibility is consistent with the statement of standards for ministerial staff?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My chief of staff fully complies with the standards. The shareholding in the company—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! If you have asked the minister the question, the minister is entitled to answer it. If you wish to debate it, the time do so is after three o'clock. I am not going to let us proceed until there is silence. Minister, continue.

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I have indicated to the chamber, there is a shareholding. There is no income received. The proper processes have been followed in terms of the statement of interests. My chief of staff fully complies with all of the requirements.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. What contact did the minister have with the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister's office in connection with her statement in the Senate last night?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There were internal discussions that were had between my office and the Prime Minister's office yesterday.