Senator COOK —My question is to Senator Parer, the Minister for Resources and Energy. In your pecuniary interest declaration to the Prime Minister, Minister, did you declare that you hold eight of the nine shares in Investment Management Pty Ltd? Did you reveal to the Prime Minister that that company held 16 shares in Queensland Coal Mine Management? Did you further reveal to the Prime Minister that that company owned 100 per cent of the Advance Queensland Resources and Mining company? Did you reveal to the Prime Minister that that company operates the Jellinbah coal mine? Finally, did you reveal that Queensland Coal Mine Management also owns 70 per cent of the Bowen Basin Coal company, which holds the Lake Vermont coal deposit?

Senator PARER (Resources and Energy) —I have told the Senate everything about this particular project. I have also advised the Senate of my own interest in Investment Management. It has been there for years and years, Senator. It takes you a long time to read. Everyone is aware of the fact—I have never hidden it; it is also in my statement in the Senate—that I was on the board of QCMM for about seven years. Of course, Advance Queensland Resources and Mining is simply the operating company for an investment company which is QCMM. So I know a little bit about this area.

Senator Cook has suddenly discovered something: 70 per cent of Bowen Basin Coal, which has an area called Ensham. That is an authority to prospect; it is not a lease. It has been there a long time. There has been a lot of work going on in regard to feasibility studies and things for many years.

Let me say that the Prime Minister laid down guidelines for ministers because we believe in the sort of government that these people on the other side would not even know about. Knowing the Prime Minister's guidelines, as he does very well, let me quote from what he said yesterday in the House of Representatives. He said:

I am satisfied that Senator Parer has not breached the ministerial guidelines.

Senator COOK —I have a supplementary question, Madam President. I asked you, Senator Parer, five explicit questions of what you told the Prime Minister.

Government senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senators on my right will cease interjecting. Start again, Senator Cook.

Senator Alston interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Alston, cease interjecting.

Senator COOK —You evaded all of those questions. I assume, therefore, that the answer is no.

Senator Parer —You are wrong.

Senator COOK —The answer is yes? My supplementary questions are: Minister, did you reveal to the Prime Minister details of the income stream derived by Investment Management Pty Ltd from Queensland Coal Mine Management, and did you reveal to the Prime Minister details of the amount of money disbursed by Investment Management Pty Ltd to the beneficiaries of your family trust? And you might chance your arm and answer the first five questions as well with a yes or no, Minister.

Senator PARER (Resources and Energy) —The ministerial guidelines require us to divulge income streams from just about every source. This is a family trust. It is made up not just of me and my wife. In fact, as I said two years ago, I do not run the thing. My wife runs it and she has run it for about eight years. However, there are seven adult children. When adult children become adults—

Senator Cook —Will you answer the question?

Senator PARER —I have said that the income stream that went from any of those trusts to me and my wife, from whatever source, were in accordance with the ministerial guidelines, and they were stated.