The facts are these:
- Senator Wong received a letter from Dr Swiegers in September 2010 in which he alleged contraventions of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act, the Corporations Act, the Science and Industry Act, the then-Trade Practices Act and breaches of relevant Commonwealth or state OH&S laws by his former employer, CSIRO.
- Senator Wong replied to Dr Swiegers in November 2010 advising him that the Department of Finance and Deregulation had been requested to look into his claims of contraventions of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act, and that his concerns regarding breaches of the Corporations Act and OH&S laws would be referred to ASIC and Comcare respectively.
- In relation to alleged contraventions of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act, the Department of Finance and Deregulation had regular dialogue with Dr Swiegers over an extended period to clarify his issues with CSIRO. As a result of the information provided, and with the benefit of external advice, the Department concluded that no contraventions of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act could be proven. At this stage, no matters giving rise to offences under the Act have been identified.
- To the extent that Dr Swiegers raised issues relating to the Corporations Act and the OH&S law, these matters were referred to ASIC and Comcare as the appropriate independent statutory regulators. ASIC and Comcare are not entities in the portfolio of Finance and Deregulation.
- It should also be noted that the Department of Finance and Deregulation has advised Senator Wong that at no stage did Dr Swiegers raise issues with the Department in relation to the sale of technology to Novartis as referred to in todays newspaper article.
Senator Wong said Ms Mirabellas false allegations do her no credit.
Its clear that Sophie Mirabella remains one of Tony Abbotts favoured foot soldiers, marching to his drumbeat of negativity, Senator Wong said.
