❓ Hon. Amber-Jade Sanderson asks the Premier about ministers reporting conflicts of interest to the cabinet secretary since November 2013, including details of notifications, recommendations, and actions taken. The Premier's response outlines the Ministerial Code of Conduct and general practices, without providing specific details, and invites the member to provide specific examples.
AnsweredQoN 633Legislative Council
Asked
18 June 2014
Member
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTERS —
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
633. Hon AMBER-JADE SANDERSON to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to the requirement that all ministers report a
conflict of interest, either perceived or actual, to the cabinet secretary.
(1) Has the
cabinet secretary been notified of any conflicts of interest since 1 November
2013?
(2) If yes to
(1), which ministers have notified the cabinet secretary; on which dates did
they notify; and what were the conflicts of interest reported?
(3) Did the cabinet secretary recommend any action as a
result of these notifications?
(4) If yes to (3), what action was recommended and was the
recommended action undertaken?
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
633. Hon AMBER-JADE SANDERSON to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to the requirement that all ministers report a
conflict of interest, either perceived or actual, to the cabinet secretary.
(1) Has the
cabinet secretary been notified of any conflicts of interest since 1 November
2013?
(2) If yes to
(1), which ministers have notified the cabinet secretary; on which dates did
they notify; and what were the conflicts of interest reported?
(3) Did the cabinet secretary recommend any action as a
result of these notifications?
(4) If yes to (3), what action was recommended and was the
recommended action undertaken?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1)–(4) Ministers are guided by the Ministerial Code
of Conduct that provides, in part —
Public duties must be carried out
objectively and without consideration of personal or financial gain. Any
conflict between a Minister's private interest and their public duty
which arises must be resolved promptly in favour of the public interest. The
same is as true for a perceived conflict of interest as an actual conflict.
Ministers do from time to time
raise issues with the cabinet secretary in relation to potential conflicts of
interest. The cabinet secretary provides guidance as to the nature of the
conflict of interest, be it real or perceived, how best to handle the conflict
and may recommend that the minister withdraw from decisions in relation to the
conflicted issue. Ministers may also declare conflicts and withdraw from
cabinet discussions, Legislative Council question without notice 647 of 2013
being an example.
If the member is aware of any
specific public policies that she believes may have created a perceived
conflict of interest for a minister, the Premier is more than happy to provide
further information.
question.
(1)–(4) Ministers are guided by the Ministerial Code
of Conduct that provides, in part —
Public duties must be carried out
objectively and without consideration of personal or financial gain. Any
conflict between a Minister's private interest and their public duty
which arises must be resolved promptly in favour of the public interest. The
same is as true for a perceived conflict of interest as an actual conflict.
Ministers do from time to time
raise issues with the cabinet secretary in relation to potential conflicts of
interest. The cabinet secretary provides guidance as to the nature of the
conflict of interest, be it real or perceived, how best to handle the conflict
and may recommend that the minister withdraw from decisions in relation to the
conflicted issue. Ministers may also declare conflicts and withdraw from
cabinet discussions, Legislative Council question without notice 647 of 2013
being an example.
If the member is aware of any
specific public policies that she believes may have created a perceived
conflict of interest for a minister, the Premier is more than happy to provide
further information.
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