❓ A parliamentary question probes potential conflicts of interest in the establishment of an iron ore inquiry, specifically regarding external influence from lobbyists, lawyers, and Cazaly Resources. The response is evasive and accusatory.
AnsweredQoN 700Legislative Council
Asked
26 June 2008
Member
QuestionView source ↗
SELECT COMMITTEE INTO THE IRON ORE INDUSTRY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA — ESTABLISHMENT MOTION
I refer to the member’s motion 82. (1) Did the member receive any assistance, advice or help in preparing the terms of reference for the proposed iron ore inquiry from any lobbyist or lawyer; and, if yes, who were they? (2) Does the member know who paid for any of the lawyers to provide the advice? (3) Has the member ever spoken to anyone from or acting on behalf of Cazaly Resources about the terms of reference for the inquiry; and, if yes, who? Hon ANTHONY FELS
I refer to the member’s motion 82. (1) Did the member receive any assistance, advice or help in preparing the terms of reference for the proposed iron ore inquiry from any lobbyist or lawyer; and, if yes, who were they? (2) Does the member know who paid for any of the lawyers to provide the advice? (3) Has the member ever spoken to anyone from or acting on behalf of Cazaly Resources about the terms of reference for the inquiry; and, if yes, who? Hon ANTHONY FELS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
(1) Did the member receive any assistance, advice or help in preparing the terms of reference for the proposed iron ore inquiry from any lobbyist or lawyer; and, if yes, who were they? (2) Does the member know who paid for any of the lawyers to provide the advice? (3) Has the member ever spoken to anyone from or acting on behalf of Cazaly Resources about the terms of reference for the inquiry; and, if yes, who? Hon ANTHONY FELS replied: I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
(2) Does the member know who paid for any of the lawyers to provide the advice? (3) Has the member ever spoken to anyone from or acting on behalf of Cazaly Resources about the terms of reference for the inquiry; and, if yes, who? Hon ANTHONY FELS replied: I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
(3) Has the member ever spoken to anyone from or acting on behalf of Cazaly Resources about the terms of reference for the inquiry; and, if yes, who? Hon ANTHONY FELS replied: I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon ANTHONY FELS replied: I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
(1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
(1) Did the member receive any assistance, advice or help in preparing the terms of reference for the proposed iron ore inquiry from any lobbyist or lawyer; and, if yes, who were they? (2) Does the member know who paid for any of the lawyers to provide the advice? (3) Has the member ever spoken to anyone from or acting on behalf of Cazaly Resources about the terms of reference for the inquiry; and, if yes, who? Hon ANTHONY FELS replied: I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
(2) Does the member know who paid for any of the lawyers to provide the advice? (3) Has the member ever spoken to anyone from or acting on behalf of Cazaly Resources about the terms of reference for the inquiry; and, if yes, who? Hon ANTHONY FELS replied: I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
(3) Has the member ever spoken to anyone from or acting on behalf of Cazaly Resources about the terms of reference for the inquiry; and, if yes, who? Hon ANTHONY FELS replied: I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon ANTHONY FELS replied: I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
I thank Hon Ken Travers for his question. (1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
(1)-(3) There is an old adage around this place that one does not ask a question unless one knows what the answer might be. Hon Ken Travers, having been a member of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations, certainly had a lot of discussions with people about that issue himself, as was revealed by Brian Burke’s evidence to the committee. I know he spoke with Hon Jon Ford and others about the issue before the committee. Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon Ken Travers : You know that, do you? The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Hon Ken Travers has asked Hon Anthony Fels a question. Hon Anthony Fels is seeking to answer the question. I note that this is the sixth week out of eight weeks that we have been sitting. We have sat for two weeks longer than the Legislative Assembly. Therefore, I can appreciate that members may be getting a little short-tempered. However, I invite Hon Anthony Fels to provide his answer through me. Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon ANTHONY FELS : Other than the information that has already been revealed to Hon Ken Travers as a member of that committee and through the various reports that have been tabled in this house, I can say that I did have a discussion with Robert Edel of the law firm Phillips Fox, who I believe is well known to Ken Travers. The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Hon Anthony Fels should refer to Hon Ken Travers as Hon Ken Travers. Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon ANTHONY FELS : I apologise, Mr President. I understand that Hon Ken Travers went to university with Robert Edel and was a close associate of his in the university labor party. Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon Ken Travers : In fact, I knew him and Troy Buswell at the same time. Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
Hon ANTHONY FELS : They were Hon Ken Travers’ mates, not mine. I asked Robert Edel, when he provided some advice to me, if I would be charged for the work and he advised me that he was doing the work pro bono for the iron ore industry. I note that that is different from the evidence he gave before the Select Committee of Privilege on a Matter Arising in the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. He believed that he told me he was working for Cazaly Resources. That is not the case. If that is the answer Hon Ken Travers was expecting, I am sorry, but that certainly is not my recollection of the discussion that I had with him. On the issue of Cazaly, I have not had discussions with Cazaly. I have never owned shares in the company. In fact, I do not know anyone who does. I have never had any contact with it and certainly was never intending to conduct any inquiry, and I hope that this house does not either, purely for the benefit of Cazaly Resources. In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
In response to the rest of the questions, other than what has already been provided in the reports, I ask Hon Ken Travers to place the question on notice so that I can give a more concise answer after I have spoken with Robert Edel and Malcolm McCusker, who was also revealed in the previous reports as having prepared that motion together with Robert Edel. I might be able to provide the details of who else might have been involved in that.
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