Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Minister, in response to a question regarding whether a brief or any form of advice was ever provided to you or to your office on the claim or proposed settlement as envisaged by guidance note 7, you said:

From my memory, I did not receive a brief or any advice from my department. I think it was quite detailed in terms of any other advice that may have come to the office. I would just want the opportunity to check that.

Minister, have you checked whether you or your office received such a brief?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In terms of whether there was a brief or any form of advice provided to me or my office on the claim or the proposed settlement and as outlined, I think, by guidance note 7, I think was Senator Cash's question, I can confirm that the answer to the senator's question is no.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, a first supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In response to a question regarding whether you ever declared a conflict in relation to any aspect of the matter, including the proposed settlement, or if you ever sought advice in relation to a potential conflict, you said:

If it had come to me, I would have declared a conflict, but it didn't. It didn't cross my desk. I did not get a brief. If there is anything further that I can update the Senate about on that, I will.

Minister, is there anything further you can update the Senate on in relation to this issue?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. I refer you to the answer I gave last week and the answer I've just given now. I did not receive any brief, including as envisaged by guidance note 7, so I had no conflict to declare.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, a second supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

AM (—) (): In response to a question regarding whether you or your office had any communication with the Attorney-General or his office, in relation to the proposed settlement of the matter, you said:

I certainly had no contact with the Attorney-General. Again, just for the purposes of being absolutely clear to the Senate, I will take other aspects of that on notice, because that would require me going and speaking with other people. But, from my point of view, no.

Minister, do you stand by your answer and can you advise the Senate if your office had any contact with the Attorney-General's office in relation to this settlement matter?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can certainly say that from—I certainly had no contact with the Attorney General's office. I must say, I thought I'd answered this last week. But I certainly haven't. I will come back if there is anything further I can advise.