Allegra Spender (Wentworth, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of this standing order motion, and I rise as the elected representative of David McBride, as he is a constituent. The Attorney-General makes the point that we shouldn't have this motion at this point, because the trial is ongoing right now, starting today. I think that is actually the point. Others across the crossbench and I have been making representations about this very issue, the case of David McBride, and also the case of Richard Boyle, for months and months and months, as have many people across civil society and law reform, because this is a critical issue. I pay tribute to the Attorney-General's strong actions on whistleblowers in the past, and I understand his reluctance to intervene. But this is a case of justice that needs to be dealt with, and this is why others and I are standing at this time. David McBride did undertake processes to try and deal with crimes that he had concerns about. He undertook processes to try and get those resolved and dealt with internally, and, when he felt he had nothing else to do, he went to the press. He has stood up for the broader goals of the Australian community. He has taken one for Australia, as opposed to having taken one for the team—in this case, he has taken one for the broader Australian community—and we are better for that. As a country, we are better for his actions, and we are better for the understandings that he brought to this country as a whistleblower.

Unfortunately, he is the man on trial today. Many people have worked tirelessly to avoid this situation, but this is where we are. I think this is a matter of urgency, and this is why I rise in support of this and I rise in support of David McBride, his bravery and what he has stood up for up until this time.

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