Hon Speaker, I rise on behalf of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests. I would like to table a report on the Auditor-General's report on the alleged nondisclosure of members' interests. The Auditor-General's annual audit of Parliament for 2009-10 included an audit of the disclosures by Members of Parliament of their interests in companies or close corporations.
The registrar determined that 31 members had not complied with the requirement of the code of conduct. The registrar investigated the matter and found that, in most cases, the companies in question were dormant or never operated and that members had not received any benefit from the companies concerned. The committee therefore recommended the following penalties: All members who have been found guilty of a breach of the code of conduct must, firstly, attend a compulsory briefing on the requirements of the code of conduct; secondly, be informed in writing that the nondisclosure of interests is considered serious; thirdly, correct their existing records in their 2010 disclosure and, lastly, be issued with a warning that any future nondisclosure could result in the maximum penalty. I hope that was brief enough for the hon Ellis.
There was no debate.