Question Time

Treasury and Finance Department

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Treasurer regarding the Department of Treasury and Finance.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: When speaking yesterday about the possibility of a former Treasurer's knowledge of allegations of misconduct in a Liberal MP's office, our current Treasurer said, in reference to concerns that could have been reported to the Department of Treasury and Finance, 'It is certainly my belief that most things that go on within a minister's department, either they know about it or they are negligent if they don't know about it.'

My question to the Treasurer is: exactly what information, complaints or allegations were provided to the Department of Treasury and Finance about the actions of Liberal staffers or concerns of Liberal staffers arising out of the Christmas parties that occurred in Parliament House on 13 December 2019?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:22): I will check the record because I think the section of the media asked a question as to whether there had been any complaints lodged in relation to this particular issue. My recollection is the advice I received and I conveyed to the media publicly was that there had been none, but I will check the record, as I said. There was a media inquiry some months ago, I suspect, or weeks ago, on the very same issue. I sought advice and that was my recollection of the advice, but I will have the record checked and if it is anything different to that I will correct the record.