‘Clear breach’: Finance Minister grilled over government grants to Labor-linked consultancy group

Senator Slade Brockman has grilled Finance Minister Katy Gallagher over the alleged conflict of interest between Health Minister Mark Butler and consultancy firm 89 Degrees East.
Mr Butler’s wife resigned from her role at 89 Degrees East amid revelations the company benefitted from a $23 million federal government contract.
Daniela Ritorto’s decision to quit the firm is understood to be unrelated to the grant and instead due to family reasons.
Ms Gallagher rejected Senator Brockman’s claims there was a “clear breach” of the ministerial code of conduct with the timeline of events under scrutiny.