Mr SWAN (2:43 PM) —My question is to the Treasurer and refers to his refusal on five occasions in this place to deny that he said to Mr Gerard, ‘I know there is a problem with the tax office, but I don’t have a problem with you on the board.’ Did the Treasurer use these words or not?

Mr COSTELLO (Treasurer) —I never said to Mr Gerard that he had an issue with the tax office. I never knew that he had an issue with the tax office. What I said to Mr Gerard was that his tax affairs had to be in order and that he would have to sign a declaration to that effect, which he did.