Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't stand on a platform of courage if you don't have any. And you can't stand on a platform of morality if you don't show any. This is the story of the Morrison government week after week after week—the sleaze and corruption. Another story, week after week after week, and every day a feeble attempt to cover it up and create a distraction.

This week we could have had a federal anticorruption commission. There are two bills drafted. The member for Indi has got one. The Prime Minister has got one as well. But, instead of introducing it, he waved it around yesterday like some sideshow huckster. The Prime Minister, who tells us that he is the only one who's tough enough to stand up to China, didn't have the courage to come in here and debate his own bill. And the Leader of the House, who tells us that he is the only one who's tough enough to stand up to the bikies, wouldn't let us debate any bill. This is the same bloke who loses his water every time somebody says nasty things about him on Twitter. This is the same guy who wanted to get rid of 18C. Of course, we know the real reason that this weak Prime Minister doesn't want an anticorruption commission: because in the witness box you have got to tell the truth. There's something very, very sinister about this Prime Minister.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm just going to ask the member for Whitlam to remain at the dispatch box and withdraw that comment about corruption. I ask the member for Whitlam to withdraw that comment about corruption.

Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.