Dr WOODRUFF question to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT, Ms OGILVIE
During budget Estimates, we asked you if you had been the subject of, or party to any Supreme Court matters. You gave us a straight answer, ‘No.’ We thank you for being clear and direct. We also asked you if the taxpayer had covered any of your legal fees. Again, you gave us a straight answer, ‘Yes’, you had. We hope you’ll follow your own lead and give us a full answer today, too.
Given it is public money that’s being spent on your legal fees, surely you’ll agree the public has a right to know the details. Can you please tell us the total amount of legal fees you had covered by the taxpayer? And can you tell us what those fees were in relation to?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for the question. You will be aware that ministers, from time to time, are engaged in matters which are connected with their work roles. No matter how we go about our business, we are entitled to protect ourselves legally. I don’t have the figure you seek.
Dr Woodruff – Would you table that?
Ms OGILVIE – Happy to have a think about giving that to you.
Dr Woodruff – Hold on. Could we take it on notice, minister?
Ms OGILVIE – Well, I might.
Dr Woodruff – You might? It’s only public money.
The SPEAKER – Order.
Ms OGILVIE – If I’m able to finish my answer. There are matters we can’t be drawn into responding to, that actually preclude us from providing some information. I’m happy to have a think about it. I won’t take it on notice, but I will consider it. And I’m glad you enjoyed my performance in Estimates.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – The minister did a fantastic job of being evasive about public money that was spent on paying her personal legal fees.
Ms Ogilvie – It’s not personal legal fees.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order. Dr Woodruff has the call.
Dr WOODRUFF – That’s what the question was: Can you please table the legal fees and give us information about what they were in relation to?
The SPEAKER – Honourable Minister for Environment.
Ms Ogilvie – Thank you. I’ll consider your question.
Dr Woodruff – Well, that’s a rubbish answer. We won’t stop, you know.
Ms Ogilvie – Sorry, Dr Woodruff, I didn’t quite hear what you were saying?
The SPEAKER – Order, the honourable Minister for the Environment will cease her interjections. The honourable Prof Razay is the only one who has the call right now.
