❓ A parliamentary question regarding allegations of gold doping at the Gold Corporation (Perth Mint) and its impact on Australia's reputation. The Treasurer refutes the premise and defends the Mint's practices.
AnsweredQoN 183Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GOLD CORPORATION — GOLD BAR CONTENT
183. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Gold Corporation
scandal involving the doping of gold.
(1) Can the
Treasurer advise whether Gold Corporation was asked to contribute to budget
repair following the 2017 election; and, if so, how did Gold Corporation
respond?
(2) Was the
decision by Gold Corporation to trash Australia's reputation as a reliable
gold producer a result of government pressure to find cost savings and deliver
more funds to government?
(3) Can the
Treasurer confirm that government should have been briefed immediately about
the decision to significantly damage Australia's reputation as per the
Gold Corporation Act 1987?
(4) Who will be
held accountable for this devastating scandal and how will the government
ensure that it will never happen again?
183. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
I refer to the Gold Corporation
scandal involving the doping of gold.
(1) Can the
Treasurer advise whether Gold Corporation was asked to contribute to budget
repair following the 2017 election; and, if so, how did Gold Corporation
respond?
(2) Was the
decision by Gold Corporation to trash Australia's reputation as a reliable
gold producer a result of government pressure to find cost savings and deliver
more funds to government?
(3) Can the
Treasurer confirm that government should have been briefed immediately about
the decision to significantly damage Australia's reputation as per the
Gold Corporation Act 1987?
(4) Who will be
held accountable for this devastating scandal and how will the government
ensure that it will never happen again?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the Treasurer.
(1)–(4) The premise of the question is incorrect; however,
it is important to understand that alloying is a longstanding process as part of everyday gold refining
techniques. It is a standard practice that the Perth Mint has carried out under successive governments, including previous Liberal–National
governments. All 99.99 gold bullion bars sold by the Perth Mint are minimum
99.99 per cent gold purity. This is the specification that the Perth Mint has
always maintained. The Perth Mint continues to guarantee the quality of its
bullion to this high standard. The Perth Mint has never received a complaint
from the Shanghai Gold Exchange regarding its 99.99 per cent gold purity.
The
issue relating to compliance with anti–money laundering and
counterterrorism regulations is taken very seriously. These are
longstanding issues, which have occurred under successive governments,
including the former Liberal–National government. I encourage the
honourable member to refrain from making further incorrect and misleading
statements.
of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the Treasurer.
(1)–(4) The premise of the question is incorrect; however,
it is important to understand that alloying is a longstanding process as part of everyday gold refining
techniques. It is a standard practice that the Perth Mint has carried out under successive governments, including previous Liberal–National
governments. All 99.99 gold bullion bars sold by the Perth Mint are minimum
99.99 per cent gold purity. This is the specification that the Perth Mint has
always maintained. The Perth Mint continues to guarantee the quality of its
bullion to this high standard. The Perth Mint has never received a complaint
from the Shanghai Gold Exchange regarding its 99.99 per cent gold purity.
The
issue relating to compliance with anti–money laundering and
counterterrorism regulations is taken very seriously. These are
longstanding issues, which have occurred under successive governments,
including the former Liberal–National government. I encourage the
honourable member to refrain from making further incorrect and misleading
statements.
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