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Ministers and Senators Behaving Badly Series 4

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If you can't convince them, then confuse them …<br />

Melbourne-based consultant Peter Crone (pictured) was awarded a $137,000<br />

contract with the National Bushfire Recovery Agency within the prime minister's<br />

department in January<br />

At a Senate estimates hearing on Monday, bushfire agency boss Andrew<br />

Colvin said he had never heard of Mr Crone prior to his engagement <strong>and</strong><br />

the Department of the Prime Minister <strong>and</strong> Cabinet was responsible for the<br />

contract.<br />

On Tuesday, the department told a hearing Mr Crone was recommended<br />

by the prime minister's office.<br />

The department said Mr Crone's contract was terminated mid-year, with his<br />

payments totalling $136,000 for six months work.<br />

Mr Crone has been a political staffer for former prime minister John<br />

Howard <strong>and</strong> played a key role in Tony Abbott's commission of audit<br />

undertaken after the 2013 election.

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