Senate Estimates has uncovered further evidence of the Liberal Partys crass politicisation of the Australian Treasury through the appointment of Scott Morrisons former Chief-of-Treasurer as Treasury Secretary.

Most of Labors questions to the new Treasury Secretary, Mr Phil Gaetjens, was marred by a clear pattern of interference from Mathias Cormann.

In an extraordinary revelation, Mr Gaetjens admitted to not providing a CV to PM&C as part of the appointment process for Treasury Secretary.

All the Government could offer was Mathias Cormanns feeble the CV of Mr Gaetjens is well-known.

Mr Gaetjens wouldnt answer questions on whether or not he advised the former Treasurer Scott Morrison to vote against a Banking Royal Commission twenty-six times.

It was put to Mr Gaetjens that as uncovered via a Treasury Freedom of Information request, Treasury had sent him information that had been requested to attack Labors reforms to dividend imputation, a fact initially disputed because according to Mr Gaetjens I was not either actioning or the direct recipient of that email. That is not correct.

Federal Labor is concerned that only a few months ago, Mr Gaetjens was the spearhead of political advice to Scott Morrison attacking Labors policy, and now as Treasury Secretary, hes responsible for Treasury advice on this and any submission it might make to Tim Wilsons Dodgy Inquiry into Labors reforms to dividend imputation.

Federal Labor has consistently expressed a concern at what such an overtly partisan political appointment means for the development of the incoming Labor Government brief and the production of the independent Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook (PEFO).

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPTS:

ON NO CV:

Keneally: Mr Gaetjens did you include your time as Chief of Staff to these former Treasurers on the CV you provided to the Prime Minister and Cabinet as part of its appointment process?

Gaetjens: I didnt apply. supply a CV to the Prime Minister and Cabinet department

Keneally: You didnt supply your CV or record of your history to Prime Minister and Cabinet? Did you supply one to anyone as part of your appointment process?

Cormann: The CV of Mr Gaetjens is well known. I think the Labor party would know the CV of Mr Gaetjens in some great detail.

Keneally: So are you telling me Minister that the Government appointed a Treasury Secretary without getting a copy of his CV?

Cormann: The appointment process in relation to the position of secretary of any portfolio of any department across the Australian public service is a matter for the Prime Ministers portfolio of course.


BERNARDI ON GAETJENS HIS POLITICS AND HIS ASSOCIATION WITH IT WELL UNKNOWN:

BERNADI: We are here to talk about Treasury estimates. Weve got a new Treasury secretary. Yes his experience is well known, his politics and his association with it is well known. Can we get on to the substance of what were meant to be talking about?


GAETJENS ADVICE TO MORRISON ON BANKING ROYAL COMMISSION:

Keneally: Mr Gaetjens, how many times did you advise Scott Morrison to vote against a Banking Royal Commission?

Gaetjens: I cant see how thats relevant with this Estimates hearing, Im sorry.

Keneally: Its incredibly relevant. A Banking Royal Commission is currently taking place. The Treasurer who you served as Chief of Staff voted against it 26 times. What advice did you provide to him regarding the Banking Royal Commission?


GAETJENS RECEIVES TREASURY ADVICE TO ASSIST WITH MORRISON ATTACK ON LABORS REFORMS TO DIVIDEND IMPUTATION

McAllister: Mr Gaetjens, on the Treasury FOI log, there is an FOI numbered 2292. Its a series of documents in response to a request from a Fairfax journalist who sought Treasury briefs or documents provided to the Treasurers office on the refund ability of dividend imputation. Are you familiar with that FOI document Mr Gaetjens?

Gaetjens: I do remember one on the issue yes.

McAllister: So youre aware that that comprises a series of emails from Treasury officials to you specifically advising on Labors dividend imputation policy on the day that that policy was announced?

Gaetjens: My memory I think was I was copied in, I was not either actioning or the direct recipient of that email.


McAllister: Mr Geatjens, I go back to the FOI that I referred to earlier, 2292, and on the second page of that there is an email from an official and it commences with Hi Phil and Gerry. There is no other Phil listed in the TOs or CCs, I assume that that person companionably referred to as Phil is you? Its Phillip Gaetjens.

Gaetjens: Id have to double check that.

McAllister: Well Mr Gaetjens Im putting it to you that you are in receipt, you were in receipt at that time of material that was requested in order to attack the Labor Partys tax policies and Im asking you how you.