Claims NSW Minister Courtney Houssos failed to follow rules to manage conflict of interest
A NSW minister is facing claims she failed to comply with rules that manage conflicts of interest created by her husband’s work.
NSW
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A minister in Chris Minns’ government is facing claims she failed to comply with the rules put in place to manage a conflict of interest created by her husband’s work.
The accusations come as The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Premier Chris Minns moved responsibility for the insurance regulator into Courtney Houssos’ portfolio after she was sworn in – while knowing Ms Houssos’ husband worked for the insurance industry’s chief lobby group.
Ms Houssos was given portfolio responsibility for the insurance regulator on May 3.
The minister has repeatedly refused to outline what steps she has taken to manage a conflict of interest created by her husband working at the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) – one of her portfolio’s biggest lobbyists.
Now The Daily Telegraph can reveal that there are claims Ms Houssos failed to adhere to the protocols put in place to manage that potential conflict regarding her attendance at the Insurance Council’s annual dinner.
Ms Houssos went so far as completing a “meeting disclosure” form to cover her attendance at the dinner, but did not take a public servant with her.
That’s despite Mr Minns telling parliament last week that a public servant would accompany Ms Houssos to any meetings she attends with the peak body.
Government sources argued that the dinner was not a “meeting” so a public servant did not need to attend.
An ICA spokeswoman previously said that discussion at the dinner “was general in nature and did not cover specific government policy initiatives”.
Ms Houssos has faced repeated questions in parliament on what she has done to manage any conflict of interest created by her husband’s work.
“I have not discussed any confidential matters as they relate to my ministerial and cabinet responsibilities with anyone other than those authorised to take part in those confidential discussions,” Ms Houssos told parliament last week.
But Liberal Treasury spokesman Damien Tudehope said the minister had failed to live up to the standards put in place to manage the conflict of interest.
“At the very first hurdle it appears that she has struggled to comply with the premier’s directions,” he said.
Mr Minns would not directly say whether Ms Houssos complied with the protocols put in place to manage the conflict when asked in parliament on Tuesday.
“I’m not going to call the police up because the minister went to an insurance dinner and sat next to her husband,” Mr Minns said.
Measures to manage any potential conflict of interest include Ms Houssos declaring her husband’s position during relevant cabinet meetings and writing to the premier about decisions that could benefit the ICA.
Immediately after the election, Ms Houssos’ husband George took steps to remove himself from lobbying the NSW government. The peak body has put in place extensive protocols to manage any potential conflict of interest.
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