Senator FORSHAW (2:45 PM) —My question is directed to Senator Vanstone, representing the Minister for Health. When did the Minister for Health become aware that his consumer representative on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority, Mr Geoff Honnor, was also employed as a consultant to the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association? What conflict of interest did the minister, as consumer representative, have when the PBPA negotiated the listing of Celebrex on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme? Why has the government allowed the independence of the authority charged with negotiating prices for pharmaceuticals to be so seriously compromised by the actions of Minister Wooldridge?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —I have some advice from Dr Wooldridge in relation to this matter. He has been advised that Mr Honnor, the consumer representative on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority, was engaged on contract for a period of 3½ weeks by the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. Dr Wooldridge understands that the contract, which has now been completed, arose after the last Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority meeting on 11 July and that the contract had not been offered to Mr Honnor at the time of that meeting. There was, therefore, no potential conflict of interest that he needed to declare at that 11 July meeting.

Dr Wooldridge also says that he rightly expects that Mr Honnor will declare a potential conflict of interest at the next meeting of the authority as required by the conflict of interest guidelines in place. That will be examined in the first instance by the authority members. Dr Wooldridge points out that, as he has indicated before, he expects the highest standards of probity from all advisory bodies within his portfolio. He takes seriously any allegations of conflict of interest and he will take steps to ensure that there are no actual conflicts of interest amongst the membership of all committees within his portfolio. Once he has heard any more on this matter, if there is any action that is required to be taken he will take it.

Senator FORSHAW —I ask a supplementary question, Madam President. I thank the minister for that answer. The first part of the original question was: when did the minister become aware of Mr Honnor's employment as a consultant? I do not think the minister provided that answer and I ask you to answer that part of the question. Also, how many meetings of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority has Mr Honnor had to excuse himself from because he was on the pharmaceutical industry's payroll? Who was representing Australian consumers on the authority when the minister's consumer representative was unable to participate because of conflict of interest?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —Senator, the remaining parts of your question—both those which you say were not addressed in the first instance and those you have subsequently added—I will refer to Dr Wooldridge and I will come back to you.