Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

I seek to update the House with further information relating to the matters revealed by the leaked emails in the Synergy 360 lobbying scandal. I advise the House that the heads of the two agencies for which I'm the responsible minister have taken the initiative of agreeing to establish a joint review of this matter. This will involve the appointment of an eminent Australian working across Services Australia and the NDIA. This arrangement will ensure there is no real or perceived conflict of interest that might exist were agencies to investigate themselves. It will provide important independence as we seek to get to the bottom of the matter of whether there was any misconduct. Australian taxpayers and voters have the right to know whether there's been any impropriety, and equally to be assured that government contracting processes are independent and merit based, not swayed by special interests or lobbyists. The terms of reference for this review will be finalised in coming days and weeks.

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