Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Human Services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I thank the minister for her commitment that that particular election commitment will be delivered and that that is the body that will be conducting the audit, as she has very clearly said and undertaken to this chamber. My explanation before the question is: last month, on 19 April, TheAge newspaper reported that the Andrews government in Victoria has ordered an investigation into the chairperson of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute over revelations that he promoted an alleged mafia figure to a prominent business body.

The week prior to that, the chair of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Mr Tony De Domenico, was described by TheAge newspaper as 'a Liberal Party figure'. TheAge revealed that the move prompted the investigation of the Italian Embassy, which demanded that Mr Madafferi's membership be blocked because of his notorious reputation. Mr De Domenico pushed for Mr Madafferi's membership of the chamber's Melbourne chapter, just weeks after Mr Guy was enveloped in a public scandal over revelations that he met Madafferi at a lobster restaurant in April 2017.

My question is: did the minister have any knowledge that the Liberal Party figure, Mr De Domenico, whose organisation she has promised will be engaged to lead the housing audit, personally promoted the alleged head of the Calabrian mafia in Australia to a prominent business body?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:28): Sorry, can you just repeat the last part of that sentence for me?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Did the minister have any knowledge that the Liberal Party figure, Mr De Domenico, whose company she has undertaken to this chamber will be engaged to lead the housing audit, personally promoted the alleged head of the Calabrian mafia in Australia to a prominent business body?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: No, I am not aware of those allegations. AHURI is a well-respected Australian organisation. Those allegations obviously are going to be investigated and appropriate steps taken, but I am assured by a number of stakeholders that AHURI is a well-respected organisation, which the Labor Party in government has partially funded. So if there are individuals who have been associated who are of ill repute and have committed particular crimes, then that will go through the correct process and those outcomes we will remain to see.