SENATOR PENNY WONG, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: Thank you for coming on another beautiful Adelaide day. Lets have a discussion about some things that are less then beautiful, and they are the series of dodgy deals that the Turnbull Government has been prepared to do with Bob Day.
All of the country knows the extent to which Malcolm Turnbulls Government has been prepared to engage in some pretty dodgy deals with Senator Bob Day in order to keep him on side. We all know about the electorate office arrangement. Well what we also know now is the extent to which money, taxpayer money, was provided to a vocational college that Bob Day was involved in, in circumstances that raise some pretty extraordinary questions.
So lets just go through this. Senator Day, as he then was, approached Simon Birmingham, Senior South Australian Senator and Cabinet Minister to put a view to him about funding a student builder proposal at a college in which Senator Day has involvement.
Senator Birmingham sent this off to an advisory group, the advisory group advised the Minister against making the grant. Despite that, magically, the Turnbull Government provided the grant. In fact they even provided more than was asked for. They provided nearly half a million more than was originally sought.
But what is really extraordinary, is that when Senator Birmingham was asked about this in Senate Estimates he attempted to dodge the issue. He was asked quite clearly whether or not he knew that Bob Day was involved in the company that hed funded and he dodged the question.
He said he couldnt recall. Ill read you the answer. He said I know that Senator Day knew of the college, I cannot say I recall he had any role in it. Well what we have today is pictures of Senator Birmingham, Senator Birmingham very clearly standing next to Bob Day at the college which received the nearly $1.84 million of taxpayer funds.
And yet Senator Birmingham says I cant recall, I couldnt recall if Bob Day was involved in this company. A company that the Turnbull Government, despite the fact that there had been advice against that funding. Even giving them more than they wanted.
Its really time for Simon Birmingham to front up and tell the truth. He should front up to the South Australian media today and he should explain why this college was funded and he should explain how it was that there are photos of him visiting it with Bob Day, but magically he cant recall a few months later whether or not Bob Day had any involvement.
Too much of this just doesnt stack up, and of course its just the next in the line of dodgy deals that Malcolm Turnbulls Government have been prepared to engage in to keep Bob Day on side.
JOURNALIST: There was a creditors meeting this morning and some grim news there that people wont be getting any of their money back. How distressing is that?
WONG: I havent seen those reports, but I think all of us feel our hearts go out to those people who may have lost money associated with the collapse of these companies. Weve seen stories of people who have put a lot of money in to try to get their own home. It is one of the things that people aspire to. We all want to own our own home and its a struggle for a lot of people. A lot of people obviously have put their own money in to this and are really suffering, Im sure, as a result of this collapse.
JOURNALIST: If what you are saying is true, should Senator Birmingham resign?
WONG: The first step is for him to be upfront. He hasnt been. The answer he gave in Senate Estimates was one of those classic lawyers answers - Im a lawyer so I can say that it was classic answer that you give if someone is trying to avoid answering the question.
Weve got a lot of taxpayers money involved. Weve got some pretty unusual circumstances advice against funding this college, the college being funded for more than it asked for and being funded almost the equivalent of its entire Budget, in fact more. There were figures in the public arena that this grant was actually more than the colleges entire revenue for the previous year. So, I think those circumstances really mean Simon Birmingham has to stand up in front of the South Australian media and tell South Australians and Australians why he funded Bob Days college and why it was justified.
JOURNALIST: Could there be a reasonable explanation? Is this something that happens all the time?
WONG: Youd have to ask Simon Birmingham for the explanation, I cant explain it
JOURNALIST: Given all the people who have lost this money, do you think we need federal legislation to change so there are stricter rules with paying contractors and builders to avoid this kind of thing in the future?
WONG: Im always interested in looking at how we might improve consumer regulation, how we might improve the behaviour of companies in relation to consumers. But lets remember why this is happening. This is happening because a business is not able to exercise its obligations under the contracts people have with it, and that's where the fault is. The fault is we have a business that has unfortunately told people it could do things, build their houses, and it cant do it.
JOURNALIST: Do you think Mr Day should face criminal or ASIC investigations?
WONG: Those matters are for the appropriate authorities so I wouldnt be commenting on any potential ASIC or criminal investigations.