Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. When and how did former Prime Minister Tony Abbott or his office first become aware of the request by Senator Day that his electorate office be established in the building he once had a clear proprietary interest in?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, you have asked me a question about Mr Abbott and his office. I cannot add anything. I have no knowledge of that, but I cannot add anything to what Senator Ryan explained in the very detailed statement that he gave this morning or to the explanation Senator Cormann gave, although Senator Cormann's statement was confined, I think, to his period as acting Special Minister of State. I cannot add anything to what Senator Ryan has said.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McCarthy, a supplementary question.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that the lease at 77 Fullerton Road was signed more than two months after Mr Turnbull became Prime Minister, when and how did Prime Minister Turnbull or his office first become aware of the request by Senator Day that his electorate office be established in a building he once had a clear proprietary interest in?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are a number of assumptions in your question, Senator, but the matter was covered by Senator Ryan in his statement, when he addressed specifically the question of when these matters were first brought to Mr Turnbull's attention. I have nothing to add to what Senator Ryan had to say.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McCarthy, a final supplementary question.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister assure the Senate that the government's agreement to establish Senator Day's electorate office in a building he once had a clear proprietary interest in was not part of a deal for support in the Senate?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is absolutely no suggestion of that whatsoever. The Senate heard this morning, Senator McCarthy—I do not know if you were in the chamber or not—a most comprehensive and detailed account of these events from Senator Ryan and, to the extent to which he was responsible for the portfolio for a few months earlier this year, from Senator Cormann. The government has been absolutely punctilious and fastidious in ensuring that a complete account of these events has been provided to the Senate by my colleague Senator Ryan and my colleague Senator Cormann. If I might trespass upon the courtesy of the Senate for a moment to confirm, in response to a question you asked me earlier on in the afternoon, Senator Wong: the date on which I first became aware of the matter, from my conversation with Senator Ryan, was indeed 18 August.