Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to reports that Mr Abbott's representative on the New South Wales Liberal Party nomination review committee, Senator Heffernan, raised concerns about the then Mr Sinodinos's dealings at Australian Water Holdings. Was the Prime Minister aware of Senator Heffernan's concerns before he appointed Senator Sinodinos to the ministry?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have nothing further to add to the Prime Minister's definitive answers in the House of Representatives last week. If I can usefully add anything further I will.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Given that the Prime Minister said last year: 'I want to absolutely scotch any suggestion that there is a cloud over Arthur Sinodinos. There is not,' can the minister advise what due diligence, if any, was undertaken by the Prime Minister prior to appointing him to the ministry? What did the Prime Minister know and when did he know it?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The who, what, how and when will all be explored by ICAC in due course. I simply suggest to the Leader of the Opposition that she wait for that to occur. I refer to my previous answer.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. I refer to comments from a Liberal frontbencher:

It’s very difficult to imagine Heffernan didn’t offer these views to Credlin and Tony Abbott,

I ask again: was the Prime Minister or his office aware of Senator Sinodinos's dealings with Australian Water Holdings before he appointed him to the ministry? This is a question about the Prime Minister's knowledge.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I again refer the Leader of the Opposition to my very first answer.