Commonwealth Bank of Australia

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:22): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment regarding meetings.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: On 28 October 2019, the minister tabled a response to a question he was asked about his Sydney meeting with the Commonwealth Bank. The minister's answer stated, 'I met with Ms Julie Hunter, General Manager, Government and ADIs, and Mr Alexander Polson, Manager, Royal Commission, at the Commonwealth Bank Group head office.' I am advised that Mr Polson is a former staffer of senior Liberal frontbencher, Mr Simon Birmingham. My question to the minister is: given that his department did not prepare any briefing material for the meeting, will he advise what was the purpose of the business meeting with the Commonwealth Bank?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:23): I thank the honourable member for his question. It's a shame he perhaps wasn't listening some weeks ago when I gave the answer in relation to what the nature of that meeting was. Ms Julie Hunter had reached out to me to say that she would like to catch up to discuss opportunities for the Commonwealth Bank here in South Australia. A lunch meeting was organised. I was in Sydney and I was happy to have that meeting. I gave that answer some weeks ago.