Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question, but I think it is a repeat of the earlier question. I indicate that I am happy for him to table the document at the end of question time, now that I have seen it, but I am not able to help him with any detail in terms of his allegations about Mr Trevor other than to say that the document that he seeks to table, which I will give permission to table at the end of question time, does not indicate any use of government resources at all. It looks like a private matter. But if there is anything else I can help the senator with I will have a look at that.

I think the important thing is that I mentioned Mr Vaile in order to indicate that the public do expect better than we have been getting out of some members of parliament and I think we do have to be very clear about the demarcation line between private interest and our role as parliamentarians. I think Mr Rudd made the point himself that there needs to be accountability for members’ time and activities and that ought to be separate from any private consultancies or other activities that they wish to conduct. As I say, I cannot comment on the particular allegations made by the senator; I have no knowledge of the matters. But certainly there is nothing in the document that he gave me that suggested that any government funds had been used. If there is anything further I wish to add to the answer, I will do so.