Personal Explanations — Hon Michael Wood—Privileges Committee Report

I seek leave to make a personal statement.

SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is none.

Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The Privileges Committee has tabled its report into my compliance with the requirements of Appendix B of the Standing Orders. I thank the committee for their work on this issue.

Their report confirms that I should have declared the shares I personally owned in the 2017 to 2021 period, and that I should have corrected the register of pecuniary interests after I did correctly declare them in 2022 and 2023. I have previously acknowledged this and I would now like to take the opportunity to unreservedly apologise to the House. As the committee notes, this was an error on my part and I deeply regret it. I’ve learnt a clear lesson: in an intense and all-consuming job I lost sight of the importance of these matters and I will prioritise complete compliance in this area as I continue my work in the Parliament.

Again, I thank the Privileges Committee for their considered report on this matter; it points to a number of areas which I believe will be useful to all members. I also take this opportunity to thank a number of members from across the House who have been supportive of me in what has been a challenging issue to deal with.