A senior Defence official has rejected accusations of nepotism over an almost $400,000 contract he awarded to a company where his son worked.
Chief information officer Stephen Pearson acknowledged he made a mistake in failing to declare a conflict of interest before signing the contract.
"If I had my time again, yes indeed, I would do that," Mr Pearson told a Senate committee in Canberra on Wednesday.
Victorian consultancy firm Sinapse was awarded the contract through a limited tender earlier this year, to complete a technical change review for Defence.
"My son does undertake part-time, casual work in a technology area for Sinapse now and again," Mr Pearson told the committee.
"He did not receive any benefit from this engagement, if that helps."
Labor's Penny Wong used the Senate estimates hearing to press Mr Pearson and other officials for answers.
"It didn't occur to you, Mr Pearson, that awarding a contract that didn't go to tender to a company your son worked at might have required some disclosure to someone?" Senator Wong asked.
Mr Pearson said he acted in good faith.
"On reflection, yes, I think there was a chance of a perceived conflict of interest, I do acknowledge that."
His manager, Rebecca Skinner, was not informed of the family connection until after the contract was awarded.
Ms Skinner, an associate secretary at Defence, conceded the situation should have been handled differently.
"There were other delegates who could have made that decision and signed that contract and they should have," she told the committee.
Nonetheless, Ms Skinner stood by her employee.
"I am confident there is no benefit from the family member who was involved," she said.
"I spoke to Mr Pearson and discussed conflict of interest management and sought that his conflicts of interest be updated."
Australian Associated Press
