I think I thought that it was a conflict that could be managed, but again, it's not for me to decide that as a deputy minister. What I was told, I think by Ms. Verschuren, was that she was engaging with and working with the Ethics Commissioner. She had received advice and was on track, and I would have expected that it would have continued.
The one thing I would say, because I noticed it in the testimony, is that there's reference to a clause in the act. It suggests that you cannot hire someone who has a conflict. I'm not a lawyer, but that's a pretty standard clause. My interpretation of that—but perhaps you should get legal advice—is that appointments can happen when there are conflicts, as long as they are being managed.