Suspicions of nepotism arise from pulping of new Australian industrial relations information booklets
{{date|November  8, 2005}}
{{aussieissue|Australian industrial relations legislation, 2005}}
The [[w:Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister of Australia]], [[w:John Howard|John Howard]], was asked in parliament today about the contract to print the [[w:WorkChoices|new industrial relations legislation]] booklets. [[w:Kelvin Thomson|Kelvin Thomson]] asked the question because the contract was awarded to Salmat Ltd., who has been said to have donated $120,000 to the [[w:Australian Liberal Party|Australian Liberal Party]], of which the Mr Howard is a member. The contract was worth $800,000 [[w:AUD|AUD]]. It was revealed by [[w:Stephen Smith|Stephen Smith]] the week earlier that these booklets were "pulped"  at a cost of $152,000 to the taxpayer.

The Prime Minster [[w:John Howard|John Howard]] said that "the contract was awarded in the normal fashion", and that he did not know if Salmat donated to any other parties, and said that he ask someone to "just do a little bit of research this afternoon" to get further information on the matter. After Question Time the Prime Minister confirmed that Salmat was selected through an open tender process, and expressed his belief that "expressions of political support should not disbar one from preferment on the merits."

== Sources ==
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* Australian House of Representatives ''[http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/hansreps.htm Hansard]'', November 8, 2005. <!-- please fix -->

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[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Liberal Party (Australia)]]
The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, was asked in parliament today about the contract to print the new industrial relations legislation booklets. Kelvin Thomson asked the question because the contract was awarded to Salmat Ltd., who has been said to have donated $120,000 to the Australian Liberal Party, of which the Mr Howard is a member. The contract was worth $800,000 AUD. It was revealed by Stephen Smith the week earlier that these booklets were "pulped"  at a cost of $152,000 to the taxpayer.

The Prime Minster John Howard said that "the contract was awarded in the normal fashion", and that he did not know if Salmat donated to any other parties, and said that he ask someone to "just do a little bit of research this afternoon" to get further information on the matter. After Question Time the Prime Minister confirmed that Salmat was selected through an open tender process, and expressed his belief that "expressions of political support should not disbar one from preferment on the merits."
Australia Oceania Politics and conflicts Liberal Party (Australia)