Jason Falinski (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

There have been some egregious amendments before this parliament, but this one probably tops the list. Once again, we have the Labor Party playing games, this time with our justice system. Why do they do it? So they can post on one of the most discredited websites on Australia, the one which is run by OpenAustralia Foundation. They put up articles claiming that people 'strongly voted' for or against particular issues in this parliament. Newsflash to all the lefties out there, most of whom can only think what they are told to think: you can't 'strongly vote' for stuff in this chamber; you can only vote for it or against it. Those opposite have the gall to come in here and lecture us about justice. They wouldn't know justice if it slapped them in the face with a three-day-old salmon fish. That's how appalling this amendment is. They cannot help but simply play games. It never stops—and they seek to be the alternative government of this country! Their bedfellows on the crossbench never stop lecturing us about honesty and integrity—oh, and climate; how could I forget climate! I wonder what OpenAustralia Foundation will make of some of their donations today.

The member for Shortland can get upset, but I bet that, in the seat of Shortland, the Labor Party preferences these fake independents. David Hardaker at Crikey said that I was 'frothing at the mouth' when I made this speech two months ago. If I was frothing at the mouth back then, I'm as angry as hell today. The people of Australia deserve to know the truth—and they deserve to know the truth from those opposite, who cannot help themselves; they come into this chamber today and seek to play games with our justice system. Their mates on the crossbench take money not just from coal investors, but from a director of a coal company; and not just any coal company, but a coal company purchased from Eddie Obeid; and not just an ordinary investor, but an investor who had an adverse finding against them by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption; and not just any donation, but the largest donation that they received; and not just from a number of transactions, but a single transaction that was then split eight ways. And why was that done? So it could be under the threshold, so they didn't have to declare it. And how did all this come to light? Did those opposite front up? Did those opposite tell people how this happened? Did they admit to their administrative mistake? No, no, no. We had to wait for the Australian Electoral Commission to do an audit.

The member for Shortland can shout as much as he likes, but the fact is that we know he and his party will be preferencing those who claim they're in favour of the climate, while taking donations from coalminers; who say they're in favour of honesty, while trying to hide these donations; and who say they're in favour of integrity but couldn't tell us what happened until there was an audit by the AEC. And that's who the Labor Party prefers to be in parliament. And then they put the votes up on the OpenAustralia Foundation website. I've got to say that the OpenAustralia Foundation should not have tax deductibility because it isn't a charity. But it does. And I suspect they probably misled the ATO when they received that status as well.

So I want David Hardaker to write on Crikey today that he was wrong and that what everyone on this side has been saying about Simon Holmes a Court, Climate 200, the fake independents, the crossbench and the Labor Party might actually be right. That's all I want. I just want those people who claim that democracy only thrives when we have a well-informed electorate to do some of that informing today, rather than hiding the truth from their readers. It's time to fess up and admit that the people you have been promoting, shamelessly, for three years have actually been taking donations from coalminers and coal investors who bought their coalmine from Eddie Obeid—so let's leave integrity out of this for the minute!

When it comes to the actual administration of justice, this bill makes that justice and that administration better. But those opposite come in and make all sorts of claims and allegations, under parliamentary privilege, without being able to back up any of it. This is a good bill. It should have the support of all sides of the House. And the Labor Party should stop this nonsense and the silly games and moving second reading amendments just so their undergraduate politics can play out on the internet.

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