Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Last week, the Treasurer announced the appointment of Mr Brendan Crotty as the inaugural chair of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation. Can the minister confirm that, as a director of Brickworks, Mr Crotty oversaw $650,000 in donations to the Liberal Party?

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

I cannot confirm that. I'm not aware of the information to respond to that question, so I'll take that on notice.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron, a supplementary question.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister confirm that, as a director of Brickworks, Mr Crotty oversaw $330,000 in donations to the Free Enterprise Foundation, the focus of operations Spicer and Credo conducted by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption?

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

On the same grounds, I'll have to take that question on notice.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron, a final supplementary question.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Was the $650,000 in donations to the Liberal Party made while Mr Crotty was a director of Brickworks considered as part of the process to appoint Mr Crotty as chair of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation?

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

Obviously, I've taken the primary and first supplementary question on notice. Without accepting the premise of the question, let me say that all appointments that are made by the Turnbull government—as previously by the Abbott government—are made entirely on merit and on the basis of being able to do the job in the public interest. The appointment that was made by the government here was a high-quality appointment, and we've got high expectations of the job that will be performed. I'll see whether the Treasurer wants to add anything to that answer.