The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:22): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Will the minister explain why interest in IRESS appeared in her 2018 register of interests but did not appear in her 2019 register of interests? Will the minister explain why interest in Healthscope has appeared in her 2009 register, despite the minister claiming she disposed of them? Is the minister aware that the Ministerial Code of Conduct prevents ministers from trading in shares during the term of their appointment?
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:23): I thank the honourable member for her question. The honourable member needs to be aware, if she is not already, because she needs to comply with the rules of the parliamentary disclosures as well, that any interests held over a 12-month period for a particular matter need to be reported. Therefore, those things have been disclosed in accordance with the register.
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:23): A supplementary: can the minister advise on what date she disposed of her shares in Healthscope and in IRESS?
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:23): I am not required to disclose the dates of those. These matters were extensively and rather pointlessly pursued through the estimates process. My understanding is that I have complied with all of the rules.
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:24): Supplementary: how much did the minister make from the disposal of her shares in Healthscope and IRESS?
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:24): I think this is an interesting line of tactic. The Labor Party are clearly antiaspirational. They clearly dislike the share portfolios: Australians investing in Australian companies, which employ Australians and provide services to Australians. It is their view that they would actively discourage people to invest in the share market, regardless of your position. The fact is that I have disclosed things under requirements.
Members interjecting:
The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Point of order, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Dawkins, a point of order.
The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I happen to be sitting right behind the minister and I can't hear the minister because of the noise in the rest of the chamber.
The PRESIDENT: Minister.
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I have complied with the requirements under legislation and codes, and what the honourable member is seeking through her particular line of questioning in her supplementary is a private matter.
The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Scriven, a further supplementary.
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:25): It's not a supplementary. Did the minister seek approval from the Premier to dispose of her shares in Healthscope and IRESS, in accordance with the Ministerial Code of Conduct? On what basis did the Premier approve the disposal of those shares?
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:26): Clearly, the honourable member or the person in the—
The Hon. K.J. Maher: Just say if you complied. Just say if you complied; it's easy: yes, I complied.
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Mr President, I am having difficulty answering the questions because—
The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, the question has been asked. You have an opportunity for a supplementary.
The Hon. K.J. Maher: She's not answering at all, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, if you want to ask a supplementary, you get on your feet after the minister has replied and ask my permission. Minister.
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Mr President, it is very difficult to answer questions when I am constantly being interrupted by one of the various corellas opposite. However, I have complied with the requirements. The Labor Party clearly is antiaspirational. It continues to demonstrate its loathing for people owning shares and should be judged. Indeed, it shares that unfortunate disposition with the federal Labor Party and, goodness me, look what happened to them at the last election.
If I have any advice for them, I would encourage them to examine that particular attitude that they have. The honourable member also seems to have completely not read the estimates Hansard, at which I was asked a range of these questions, and I responded to them. So I don't think I have anything to add.
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:27): Supplementary, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT: One further supplementary.
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Will the minister please answer when she disposed of the shares in Healthscope and IRESS? If she will not, why won't she be transparent about a possible conflict of interest?
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:27): These issues have been extensively canvassed through estimates. I have complied. I am—
Members interjecting:
The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I have complied with the requirements of disclosure.
The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Point of order, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT: Point of order, the Hon. Ms Franks.
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Franks, just sit down for a moment. Let's let them get it out of their system.
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, there is a point of order.
The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Is it parliamentary in this debate to interject accusations that something should be referred to ICAC? Is that parliamentary?
The PRESIDENT: I didn't hear it, but if it was—
The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I did, and I am sure I wasn't alone.
The PRESIDENT: —it was inappropriate and the member should withdraw it.
The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I didn't say—it's in Hansard. I did not say that it would be referred to ICAC, I said that it could be an issue for ICAC. That's totally different. That is totally different.
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order! I accept the explanation, the Hon. Mr Wortley. The Hon. Ms Bourke.
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