Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Over the last 48 hours we have watched in absolute dismay as another scandal unfolds over this government. This time it's Minister Cash who has been caught as the mastermind of a gross abuse of government power, where they have used the scarce resources of the Australian Federal Police for a political purpose—that is, to go after their political enemies.

When this travesty was discovered, instead of taking responsibility, the minister misled the parliament and then blamed her staff. Well, frankly, the minister's stories do not stack up. They are unbelievable. She should not have organised a raid on the union office. She should not have turned it into a media spectacle. And she should not have misled parliament about her role in the entire affair.

The minister sets a very high standard for union members all around the country. She should not set a standard that she is not willing to apply to herself. So, if the minister is not willing to take responsibility for her gross misuse of government power, it is time for this Prime Minister to do the right thing. This is about telling the truth and taking responsibility. The Prime Minister should do the right thing and sack the minister today.