Senator offers up document proof

BARRY O’Sullivan tabled a series of documents in the Senate this week that proves he has no interest in Toowoomba company Newlands Civil Construction which also has no contracts with the Commonwealth of Australia.

Senator O’Sullivan had been questioned extensively by Labor senators over his links to Newlands Civil Construction Pty Ltd, a Toowoomba business owned by his son.

That company is a sub-contractor on the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

Labor had claimed the business had benefited from three contracts, partly Commonwealth funded, worth up to $6 million.

A fiery exchange during the Senate question time on Thursday heard further questioning and inferences about Senator O’Sullivan, alleging a conflict of interest between his elected position of influence and the business deals.

Labor had claimed the conflict rendered Senator O’Sullivan ineligible to sit in federal parliament under Section 44 of the Australian Constitution.

In a personal statement to the Senate, the Toowoomba senator said the claims fielded by Labor had impacted his family and the reputation of the business which employs more than 100 people in the region.

“In recent days, I have been the subject of assertions made under the protection of parliamentary privilege, directed at myself, that in effect says that either myself, or companies which I currently have an interest in; or have historically had an interest in, have, or have had, either a direct, or indirect pecuniary interest in an agreement with the public service of the Commonwealth of Australia,” he said.

“These assertions are designed to make the argument that I am somehow in breach of Section 44 (4) of the Constitution of Australia, and therefore asset by their inference that I am ineligible to sit in the senate representing my state of Queensland.”

“In response, I can say that I have not now, nor have I ever used my position to influence any contract with the Commonwealth of Australia.”

“It is not my company, has never been my company and the extracts from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission will verify that beyond any doubt.”

Among the documents tabled were those from Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester which Senator O’Sullivan said proved Newlands Civil Construction had never held a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia.

Read the senator’s full statement online at thechronicle.com.au.

❝ I can say that I have not now, nor have I ever used my position to influence any contract with the Commonwealth of Australia. — Senator Barry O’Sullivan