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Peta Credlin dragged into Icac controversy over carbon tax emails Peta Credlin dragged into Icac controversy over carbon tax emails
(35 minutes later)
The prime minister’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin, sought to contact a Liberal party donor to use a “great line” he put forward opposing the carbon tax, emails tendered at the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) have revealed.The prime minister’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin, sought to contact a Liberal party donor to use a “great line” he put forward opposing the carbon tax, emails tendered at the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) have revealed.
Lawyers had sought to suppress the emails between Credlin, the NSW Liberal party chief fundraiser, Paul Nicolaou, and Lindsay Partridge, the chief executive of Brickworks.Lawyers had sought to suppress the emails between Credlin, the NSW Liberal party chief fundraiser, Paul Nicolaou, and Lindsay Partridge, the chief executive of Brickworks.
The company, which stood to benefit from the repeal of the carbon tax, was prohibited from donating in NSW due to its work as a property developer (donations to federal parties are not illegal). Icac has previously heard evidence that donations nevertheless ended up with the state Liberal party in the lead-up to the 2011 election. The commission has heard evidence that donations were funnelled to the party through an associated entity known as the Free Enterprise Foundation.The company, which stood to benefit from the repeal of the carbon tax, was prohibited from donating in NSW due to its work as a property developer (donations to federal parties are not illegal). Icac has previously heard evidence that donations nevertheless ended up with the state Liberal party in the lead-up to the 2011 election. The commission has heard evidence that donations were funnelled to the party through an associated entity known as the Free Enterprise Foundation.
The mystery emails were made available again on Monday after being briefly suppressed when counsel representing the former assistant treasurer Arthur Sinodinos raised concerns about whether they breached parliamentary privilege.The mystery emails were made available again on Monday after being briefly suppressed when counsel representing the former assistant treasurer Arthur Sinodinos raised concerns about whether they breached parliamentary privilege.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Bronwyn Bishop, advised there was no claim of privilege over the documents, and Icac commissioner Megan Latham lifted the order.The speaker of the House of Representatives, Bronwyn Bishop, advised there was no claim of privilege over the documents, and Icac commissioner Megan Latham lifted the order.
Partridge first emailed Nicolaou in the afternoon of 1 March 2011, saying “Tell Tony to stick to his guns on no carbon tax.”Partridge first emailed Nicolaou in the afternoon of 1 March 2011, saying “Tell Tony to stick to his guns on no carbon tax.”
He went on to say he was running an “internal fight” with the Business Council of Australia about the tax, and added: “Business does want certainty. We want certainty that there is no new tax.”He went on to say he was running an “internal fight” with the Business Council of Australia about the tax, and added: “Business does want certainty. We want certainty that there is no new tax.”
Nicolaou then emailed Credlin, saying: “Dear Peta, please note below from Lindsay Partridge the MD of Brickworks the largest producer of bricks in Australia and a very good supporter of the party.”Nicolaou then emailed Credlin, saying: “Dear Peta, please note below from Lindsay Partridge the MD of Brickworks the largest producer of bricks in Australia and a very good supporter of the party.”
Credlin responded: “Paul, Lindsay provides a great line for Question Time. Do you have a number that I might be able to contact him on and see if he was happy for us to use it and perhaps, use his sector as an example (if not his actual business)? We wouldn’t do this without his explicit approval but it would be ideal for tomorrow – cheers Peta.”Credlin responded: “Paul, Lindsay provides a great line for Question Time. Do you have a number that I might be able to contact him on and see if he was happy for us to use it and perhaps, use his sector as an example (if not his actual business)? We wouldn’t do this without his explicit approval but it would be ideal for tomorrow – cheers Peta.”
Nicolaou responded that Partridge would be “only too happy to help”.Nicolaou responded that Partridge would be “only too happy to help”.
Two months after the exchange, Abbott spoke at an Austral Bricks factory in his campaign against the carbon tax.Two months after the exchange, Abbott spoke at an Austral Bricks factory in his campaign against the carbon tax.
On 24 March 2011 the Liberal senator Mathias Cormann, now the finance minister, referred to Brickworks in parliament. He said he had been drawn to a news agency article that included Partridge’s comments.On 24 March 2011 the Liberal senator Mathias Cormann, now the finance minister, referred to Brickworks in parliament. He said he had been drawn to a news agency article that included Partridge’s comments.
“I was drawn to an article today which was published by [Australian Associated Press] where Mr Partridge, Australia’s largest brick and tile maker, said the federal government’s carbon price proposals will add about 10% to the cost of housing across Australia – 10%. When he said it would add about 10% to the cost of housing, he was working on the basis of a carbon price of $20.”“I was drawn to an article today which was published by [Australian Associated Press] where Mr Partridge, Australia’s largest brick and tile maker, said the federal government’s carbon price proposals will add about 10% to the cost of housing across Australia – 10%. When he said it would add about 10% to the cost of housing, he was working on the basis of a carbon price of $20.”
Cormann said in a statement on Monday: “My comments in parliament were based entirely on information which was in the public domain at that time and which supported the public policy arguments against the carbon tax we were pursuing at the time, namely that the carbon tax would push up the cost of living and the cost of doing business.
“I was not aware of any contact during that period between Brickworks and the then office of the leader of the opposition, which is not unusual, and to the best of my recollection have not myself had any contact with Brickworks either.”
On Sunday Credlin told the speaker’s office in a letter she would have “no objection” to the release of the emails.On Sunday Credlin told the speaker’s office in a letter she would have “no objection” to the release of the emails.
“Ahead of any consideration you might make regarding privilege, I have no objection to this email, as outlined in this letter, being made public,” she said.“Ahead of any consideration you might make regarding privilege, I have no objection to this email, as outlined in this letter, being made public,” she said.