Senator FAULKNER (3:11 PM) —I move:

That the Senate take note of answers given by the Minister for Resources and Energy (Senator Parer), to questions without notice asked today, relating to the financial interest of Senator Parer.

Today the opposition has raised a number of questions regarding very serious matters—questions that we believe it is appropriate for the Minister for Resources and Energy to answer comprehensively on the public record. We now, of course, have a situation where apparently the government believes that it is not appropriate for the opposition to hold the executive accountable during question time. We will not be adopting that level of ministerial and parliamentary accountability when, as we have a situation here, we have been provided with information—

Senator Ian Campbell —Have you been at the ASC again looking up dead directors?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Campbell, it is disorderly to interject, in the first place; but it is even more disorderly to interject out of your seat.

Senator FAULKNER —When we have information that indicates that discrepancies exist between the minister's own statements, his entries on the Register of Senators' Inter ests and publicly available Australian Securities Commission companies information.

Senator Ian Campbell —He is very good at looking up dead directors.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order!

Senator FAULKNER —We believe it is appropriate that the minister set the record straight on these issues. We invite the minister to provide answers to a number of questions, and they are important ones. Senator Parer ought to address himself to the issue of whether his Register of Senators' Interests lists all shares.

Senator Ian Campbell —You found your way down there!

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Campbell. Senator Faulkner, excuse me.

Senator Ian Campbell —Take your seat.

Senator Robert Ray —You are not sitting down either, grub.

Senator Ian Campbell —Yes, I am.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Ray. It is not appropriate to interject in this place at any stage, and it is more inappropriate to interject when you are not in your seat. I would please urge you to observing standing orders and to cease your interjections. Thank you.

Senator FAULKNER —Thank you, Madam Deputy President. We ask Senator Parer: does your Register of Senators' Interests list all shares held either directly or indirectly by your family trust? If not, why not?

Senator Ian Campbell —When is the next meeting of dead directors?

Senator FAULKNER —We ask Senator Parer: does your register of interests identify your apparent interest in a coal-mining company as a potential conflict of interest; and, if not, why not?

Senator Ian Campbell —Why don't you apologise, you scumbag?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Campbell.

Senator Ian Campbell —When is the next meeting of dead directors?

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Campbell.

Senator FAULKNER —We ask: have you divested yourself of all shares in the area of your portfolio responsibility; and, if not, why not? We ask Senator Parer: is your directorship of a trust which holds mining shares likely to conflict with your public duty? We ask Senator Parer—

Senator Ian Campbell —We ask you to apologise.

Senator FAULKNER —We ask Senator Parer: do your business interests expose you to charges of using public office for private gain? We ask Senator Parer, in relation to the details of his family trust—and we know that it owns the shares in QCMM from third party sources—what else does it do?

Senator Ian Campbell —We ask: when are you going to apologise, you scumbag?

Senator FAULKNER —We ask: is it, or its related entities, engaged in activities related to Senator Parer's ministerial responsibilities? We ask: where does it get its income? We ask: does it have the power to influence, directly or indirectly, any other company?

The opposition is asking for substantive answers to what we believe are very important questions, because we are well aware of the requirements incumbent on ministers regarding their public duties and private interests. For example, there is the statement of registrable interests which says that:

Any senator must notify any relevant interest in any shares which enables the senator, the senator's spouse or dependent children to exercise control over the right to dispose of those shares. This includes shares held by a family or business trust.

The notes also state:

The senator must list any other interest which in the opinion of the senator holds the potential for real or apparent conflict of interest with the senator's public duties to arise.

We ask about the discredited Prime Minister's guidelines on ministerial conduct. We just say that the Prosser defence, that is, `I have complied with all requirements', is not good enough. This minister must be accountable on these important issues.