Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister to the Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Mayo. I think we are all in violent agreement that a penalty regime is appropriate; we are disagreeing on where the line should be drawn. It is our position—and I fear that we are covering old ground—that the 25 per cent financial penalty is appropriate in the circumstances. I welcome the opposition's support of that penalty regime and the 25 per cent penalty—that is the position of the government and we think that it strikes the balance. Again, we will have an opportunity in the legislation to review this in due course, but I am confident and the government is confident that this penalty regime will provide the incentives necessary to ensure that all members—and can I just put on the record that the absolute bulk if not all members are very honest individuals, including those in the opposition and on the crossbench. This is an appropriate penalty regime. However, I thank the member for Mayo for her contribution.

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