Mr BEAZLEY (3:06 PM) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business. At any time between August 1999 and May 2000, did you discuss with the Special Minister of State the question of informing the Prime Minister about the misuse of your telecard? If so, when? Why was it decided not to inform the Prime Minister?

Mr REITH (Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business) —I never had any discussions with the Special Minister of State on the question of whether the matter should be referred to the Prime Minister. The only conversation I did have with the Special Minister of State was on 22 February. On 22 February I had not heard any developments in respect of the particular matter that was raised with me on 30 August 1999. I had a member of my staff ring his office to say that I wanted to speak to him. I spoke to him on the evening of 22 February. Essentially, the course of the conversation was to the effect that I had raised the matter with his department and sought an investigation back in August 1999. He said he was aware of that. I said it was well after Christmas and I was obviously concerned that the matter be investigated. He said that the matter was being properly investigated and that there was a proper process for the investigation of these matters. He said that there was an established departmental committee which had authority, subject to a process which had been ticked off by the Attorney-General's Department. I said that obviously the investigation was a matter for his responsibility and he said the matter was proceeding, that he was satisfied that the matter was being properly investigated at a high level and that all the proper processes were in place and had been fully observed.