Chapter 1

Introduction

Referral

1.1
On 22 July 2019, the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 10 September 2019:
(a)
compliance by former Ministers of State with the requirements of paragraph 2.25 of the Prime Minister's Statement of Ministerial Standards, dated 30 August 2018, including, but not limited to the undertakings given by Ministers to comply with their obligations concerning post-ministerial employment, and action taken by the Prime Minister and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to ensure full compliance by former Ministers with paragraph 2.25 of the Ministerial Standards; and
(b)
any related matters.1
1.2
On 9 September 2019, the Senate extended the reporting date to 26 September 2019.2

Conduct of the inquiry

1.3
Details of the inquiry were placed on the committee's website at: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_fpa. The committee also contacted a number of relevant individuals and organisations to notify them of the inquiry and invite submissions by 12 August 2019.
1.4
The committee received nine submissions. Submissions received by the committee are published in Appendix 1.
1.5
The committee held two hearings in Canberra, on 30 August 2019 and 5 September 2019.
1.6
A list of witnesses who gave evidence is available at Appendix 2.
1.7
Submissions and the Hansard transcript of evidence may be accessed through the committee website. References to the Hansard are to the Proof Hansard.

Report structure

1.8
This report is comprised of three chapters, as follows:
Chapter 1 covers the referral and conduct of the inquiry;
Chapter 2 sets out the background to the inquiry; and
Chapter 3 discusses the key issues in relation to the inquiry.

Acknowledgements

1.9
The committee thanks the individuals and organisations who participated in the public hearings as well as those that made written submissions.
  • 1
    Journals of the Senate, No. 4—22 July 2019, p. 158. As part of the referral of the inquiry, the Senate also noted a number of matters in relation to the Hon. Christopher Pyne's post-ministerial employment by EY, the full motion is set out at Appendix 3.
  • 2
    Journals of the Senate, No. 12—9 September 2019, p. 383.

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Past Public Hearings

05 Sep 2019: CANBERRA
30 Aug 2019: CANBERRA