Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

They are prepared to slur people across the chamber— Michael Deegan was appointed head of the National Transport Commission by the Howard government. The Deputy Prime Minister seems to think he has no influence on who is appointed head of the National Transport Commission, which is quite extraordinary. The only person with any political background who was appointed to the Infrastructure Australia council was Mark Birrell, the former minister in the Kennett government, and he was appointed on the basis of merit. There were no former Labor politicians appointed to that body. In terms of the process, we need to make sure that we get it right. This is an opportunity to get it right. I support the amendments.

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