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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/12/fiona-nash-says-staffers-interest-in-wifes-lobbying-firm-poses-no-conflict
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| Fiona Nash says staffer’s interest in wife’s lobbying firm poses 'no conflict' | Fiona Nash says staffer’s interest in wife’s lobbying firm poses 'no conflict' |
| (7 months later) | |
| The assistant health minister, Fiona Nash, says her chief of staff has “no conflict of interest” because he “receives no income” from a “shareholding” in his wife’s lobbying firm, which represents chocolate and soft drink makers, but the opposition says there has been a “serious breach” of standards. | The assistant health minister, Fiona Nash, says her chief of staff has “no conflict of interest” because he “receives no income” from a “shareholding” in his wife’s lobbying firm, which represents chocolate and soft drink makers, but the opposition says there has been a “serious breach” of standards. |
| Having originally insisted that her chief of staff, Alistair Furnival, had “no connection whatsoever” with the company, she conceded that Furnival, who intervened to pull down a healthy food rating website that had been opposed by parts of the food industry, was a “shareholder in the lobbying firm owned by his wife, Tracey Cain, Australian Public Affairs (APA)”. | Having originally insisted that her chief of staff, Alistair Furnival, had “no connection whatsoever” with the company, she conceded that Furnival, who intervened to pull down a healthy food rating website that had been opposed by parts of the food industry, was a “shareholder in the lobbying firm owned by his wife, Tracey Cain, Australian Public Affairs (APA)”. |
| APA acts for Cadbury’s parent company, the snack food giant Mondelez, as well as soft drink industry group Australian Beverages Council. Furnival was once chairman of APA and chief economist for Cadbury. | APA acts for Cadbury’s parent company, the snack food giant Mondelez, as well as soft drink industry group Australian Beverages Council. Furnival was once chairman of APA and chief economist for Cadbury. |
| Investigations by Guardian Australia show he also remains a director of one of three companies that form the APA partnership, which is registered with NSW Fair Trading. | Investigations by Guardian Australia show he also remains a director of one of three companies that form the APA partnership, which is registered with NSW Fair Trading. |
| The government’s “standards for ministerial staff” require that staff “divest themselves, or relinquish control, of interests in any private company or business and/or direct interest in any public company involved in the area of their ministers’ portfolio responsibilities”. | The government’s “standards for ministerial staff” require that staff “divest themselves, or relinquish control, of interests in any private company or business and/or direct interest in any public company involved in the area of their ministers’ portfolio responsibilities”. |
| “Yes, I can confirm it was an item on the agenda. Yes, I can confirm that I was chairing the meeting. Yes, I can confirm that my chief of staff did not declare an interest. | “Yes, I can confirm it was an item on the agenda. Yes, I can confirm that I was chairing the meeting. Yes, I can confirm that my chief of staff did not declare an interest. |
| “I was fully aware of the relationship between my chief of staff, APA and his previous role within Cadbury and the confectionery industry … my chief of staff complies with proper internal standards under the statement of standards for ministerial staff,” Nash said under a sustained opposition attack during Senate question time. | “I was fully aware of the relationship between my chief of staff, APA and his previous role within Cadbury and the confectionery industry … my chief of staff complies with proper internal standards under the statement of standards for ministerial staff,” Nash said under a sustained opposition attack during Senate question time. |
| “Operating procedures” for the legislative and governance forum on food regulation require that “members and supporting staff have a responsibility to disclose and take reasonable steps to avoid any conflict of interest, real or apparent, in connection with their membership or support of the Forum or its subordinate bodies.” | “Operating procedures” for the legislative and governance forum on food regulation require that “members and supporting staff have a responsibility to disclose and take reasonable steps to avoid any conflict of interest, real or apparent, in connection with their membership or support of the Forum or its subordinate bodies.” |
| Nash said she had had discussions with the prime minister’s office after the conflict of interest claims were aired earlier this week and was confident that the arrangements in place meant he “complies with proper internal standards”. | Nash said she had had discussions with the prime minister’s office after the conflict of interest claims were aired earlier this week and was confident that the arrangements in place meant he “complies with proper internal standards”. |
| “I am confident there is no conflict of interest,” Nash insisted. | “I am confident there is no conflict of interest,” Nash insisted. |
| But veteran Labor senator John Faulkner said the revelations represented “serious negligence in her conduct of her ministerial responsibilities” and a “very serious breach”. | But veteran Labor senator John Faulkner said the revelations represented “serious negligence in her conduct of her ministerial responsibilities” and a “very serious breach”. |
| Tracey Cain issued a statement late on Wednesday in which she stated: “Alastair Furnival resigned and left his role as chairman at Australian Public Affairs last September. | |
| “Obviously, since his resignation and appointment as a chief of staff with a commonwealth minister he has drawn no salary, dividend or profit share from this company. Following his appointment, the process began to transfer Alastair’s shareholding to me as his former co-director. | |
| “Since last September, Australian Public Affairs has not made representations to either health minister, their offices, or the Health Department; and has made no representations to any other minister of the commonwealth in relation to the health portfolio. | |
| “Whilst this commitment applies to all clients, I particularly note that it has applied to Mondelez International, the Australian Beverages Council and Proctor & Gamble. | |
| “We will update our profile on the lobbyist register to remove Mondelez International, the Australian Beverages Council and Proctor & Gamble.” | |
| Nash confirmed on Tuesday that Furnival, on her orders, intervened to pull down a healthy food website that rated packaged food on a 1-5 star basis. She said the website had been launched prematurely. | Nash confirmed on Tuesday that Furnival, on her orders, intervened to pull down a healthy food website that rated packaged food on a 1-5 star basis. She said the website had been launched prematurely. |
| The voluntary system had been two and a half years in the making and had been approved by the forum of state, federal and New Zealand ministers, which has oversight of food regulation. The forum took the unusual step of voting to approve the system at the December meeting. | The voluntary system had been two and a half years in the making and had been approved by the forum of state, federal and New Zealand ministers, which has oversight of food regulation. The forum took the unusual step of voting to approve the system at the December meeting. |
| All public stakeholder groups were told the website would be published last week but within hours Furnival rang the department to have it taken down. | All public stakeholder groups were told the website would be published last week but within hours Furnival rang the department to have it taken down. |
| The Guardian understands that when staff refused because they were under orders from the ministerial forum rather than the minister, Furnival went to the department ’s senior executive ranks to intervene. | The Guardian understands that when staff refused because they were under orders from the ministerial forum rather than the minister, Furnival went to the department ’s senior executive ranks to intervene. |
| Nash made the unusual move of adding to her question time response in the Senate adjournment debate just before 9pm on Tuesday. | Nash made the unusual move of adding to her question time response in the Senate adjournment debate just before 9pm on Tuesday. |
| “In short, both Mr Furnival and Ms Cain have taken proper and appropriate steps to prevent conflicts or potential conflicts between the private business and his duties as my chief of staff by withdrawing from any work for clients in the health portfolio,” she said. | “In short, both Mr Furnival and Ms Cain have taken proper and appropriate steps to prevent conflicts or potential conflicts between the private business and his duties as my chief of staff by withdrawing from any work for clients in the health portfolio,” she said. |
| “At the time of answering Senator Wong’s question I did not have every detail of this information at hand, but, having made further checks after question time I provide this information to the Senate.” | “At the time of answering Senator Wong’s question I did not have every detail of this information at hand, but, having made further checks after question time I provide this information to the Senate.” |
| APA is a partnership registered with NSW Fair Trading. NSW Fair Trading records show APA’s partners are three companies – APA Pty Ltd, Strategic Issues Management Pty Ltd and Centre for Litigation Communications Pty Ltd. | APA is a partnership registered with NSW Fair Trading. NSW Fair Trading records show APA’s partners are three companies – APA Pty Ltd, Strategic Issues Management Pty Ltd and Centre for Litigation Communications Pty Ltd. |
| Australian Securities and Investment Commission documents show that Furnival is a director of Strategic Issues Management Pty Ltd along with Tracey Cain, who is also secretary. | Australian Securities and Investment Commission documents show that Furnival is a director of Strategic Issues Management Pty Ltd along with Tracey Cain, who is also secretary. |
| The chief executive of the Public Health Association, Michael Moore, said it was clear that some influence had been “brought to bear” and consumer and health advocates would be pushing to have the website reinstated. | The chief executive of the Public Health Association, Michael Moore, said it was clear that some influence had been “brought to bear” and consumer and health advocates would be pushing to have the website reinstated. |
| “We were really appalled and shocked when it came down,” said Moore, who was an independent member in the ACT Legislative Assembly and a former health minister. | “We were really appalled and shocked when it came down,” said Moore, who was an independent member in the ACT Legislative Assembly and a former health minister. |
| “There is clearly politics but we just to get the website back up. We have a voluntary code that some parts of the industry wants to get up. | “There is clearly politics but we just to get the website back up. We have a voluntary code that some parts of the industry wants to get up. |
| “This was a system in place ready to go and some influence had been brought to bear to bring it down.” | “This was a system in place ready to go and some influence had been brought to bear to bring it down.” |