Honourable Member for WentworthvilleaAnd Environmental Resources Management Australia (Holdings
| About this Item |
Subjects | Members of Parliament; Pecuniary Interests; Parliamentary Committees: New South Wales: Natural Resources Management |
Speakers | Speaker; O'Farrell Mr Barry; Allan Ms Pam |
Business | Questions Without Notice |
Commentary | Environmental Resource Management (ERM) Australia Question asked by Pam Allan |
Page: 3474
Mr O'FARRELL: My question is directed to the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management. In view of her chairmanship of the committee and its activities, which are of direct commercial interest to Environmental Resources Management [ERM] Australia (Holdings), will she reveal how much she is getting paid as a director of ERM and what she does for it?
Ms ALLAN: First, I echo the eloquent words of the Premier when he said that the honourable member for Wentworthville had been scrupulous in complying with the rules and regulations of the Parliament in relation to this matter. Unlike members opposite, I have declared my directorship in my pecuniary interest register in two successive years. The Premier has already mentioned that. Earlier in question time the honourable member for Southern Highlands interjected on the Premier, "What about this year?" And, of course, I will be complying again when the register is due for completion. The Opposition signalled its intention to ask this question of me today. The Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management held a series of public meetings this morning. My good friend the Deputy Leader of the National Party indicated that—
[[lMr SPEAKER: Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the third time.
Ms ALLAN: The Leader of the Opposition was not there, but his stooges were there. The honourable member for Ballina signalled that the Opposition expected me to step down from my position. Of course, I will not be doing that. Indeed, the decision of the committee overwhelmingly was that I should remain as Chair, and I thank the committee members for their support. One relevant matter raised by the honourable member is the potential conflict of interest.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Epping to order for the third time.
Ms ALLAN: I refer to the tabled minutes of the Select Committee on Salinity, which is the committee that was set up immediately prior to the Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management. In particular I refer to the minutes of 11 April last year, in which I specifically referred to the possible relevance of ERM and the committee. The minutes state:
Consideration of the revised draft report.
It was an excellent report and one that has already been discussed in this Chamber. The minutes further state:
The revised draft report having been previously circulated, the chairman declared her interest in ERM, a company referred to in the revised draft report in relation to the case study of the Boral site in the Holroyd local government area.
Mr O'Farrell: What committee was that?
Ms ALLAN: That is April 2002.
Mr O'Farrell: That committee no longer exists.
Ms ALLAN: The honourable member for Ballina sat on that committee, and today in the Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management he raised the identical issue.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of The Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.
Ms ALLAN: That was handled in April 2002, and I will continue to handle the matter in a completely appropriate manner.
Mr Tink: Point of order: My point of order is relevance. The web site of the Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management shows that it was only set up on 8 May 2003. What the honourable member for Wentworthville is talking about predates the setting up of a committee—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The honourable member for Epping will resume his seat.
Mr Tink: —a committee that is almost identical in title as the company of which she is a director. That is an outrageous standing, walking conflict of interest.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I remind the honourable member for Epping that he is on three calls to order.
Mr O'Farrell: How much?
Ms ALLAN: In conclusion, can I say that, unlike the Leader of the Opposition, and possibly other members opposite, my involvement with ERM is strictly on the public parliamentary record. I am neither a lobbyist nor a consultant for ERM. I am a non-executive director providing professional advice to a company.
Mr O'Farrell: Point of order: My point of order relates to relevance. I asked the honourable member how much she was being paid. She has not addressed that. Give the money back or resign the position!
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat.