Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I stand this afternoon to support this motion and to highlight the importance of maintaining the integrity and intent of the Register of Senators’ Interests. It is patently obvious that we should support such a motion. However, the Labor Party and those on the other side have handled this in a very high-handed manner. It is nothing short of political shenanigans that they have placed this motion before the Senate this afternoon. By doing so, and by highlighting the concerns in the way that they have—by throwing the mud in the manner that they have—they have hijacked their own motion. They have turned the heat on themselves.

They have turned the heat on their own colleagues in the various state governments around Australia because, by any means, it has been quite clearly demonstrated that the system that has been working here at the federal level is actually working well. The system was implemented by Prime Minister Howard, who introduced a ministerial code of conduct for the first time ever in Australian political history. The Charter of Budget Honesty, the system of ensuring accountability and full disclosure, has been supported, acted upon and instigated by the Howard government. Why do you think the Prime Minister is nicknamed ‘Honest John’ from time to time? I can tell you that it is because he is honest, which is important to the Australian people. They accept that and they know that.

The system has been and is working. Yes, Senator Santoro made a mistake. In his resignation statement, Senator Santoro said:

None of these investments involves either impropriety or a conflict of interest and there was never any dishonest intention on my part. Nevertheless I have neglected to properly report a number of investments to the Prime Minister and to the Senate. This is the reason for my announcement today.

The Prime Minister accepted that and said that Senator Santoro had failed to comply with his obligations as a senator and with his ministerial obligations of disclosure. so, on both counts, there is an acceptance that there was a mistake made and the price has been paid. Senator Santoro has paid the highest price possible: he has resigned his commission as a minister in the Howard government.

Senator Santoro, as everybody would acknowledge, got across his brief very well and very quickly. He was competent and professional, and he conducted his ministerial role to a very high standard. He was responsible, at least in part, for the $1.5 billion announcement made by the Prime Minister, on investing in Australia’s aged-care industry. There will be a legacy. People will look back and say thank you: ‘Thank you for your role. Thank you for your contribution. Thank you for your input and for that tremendous investment in Australia’s aged-care industry.’

With the Labor Party, it is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. They have set benchmarks and key performance indicators that contrast with the various state Labor governments around Australia. They are waxing lyrical today over what has happened in the last few days, but they make no mention whatsoever of the very busy schedule of the various anticorruption commissions in the state governments around Australia. Those commissions are implementing their brief to seek out and to act upon corrupt officials in those state governments. Look at what has been going on in Queensland and New South Wales. Look at Western Australia, with the Brian Burke affair. What about Tasmania? Tasmania does not have an anticorruption commission; however the Deputy Premier, Brian Green, has resigned his commission and the DPP is now taking action against him in the courts. I will not speak about that, because it is before the courts.

The Labor Party, in doing what they have done today—throwing mud and allegations and getting involved in political shenanigans—have highlighted their own lack of standards in the various state governments around Australia. The best indicator of how Labor in office would handle public moneys, how they would be accountable to the Australian people, how they would support full disclosure and how they would be responsible for their actions and accountable for their decisions is how they do it elsewhere. What are their brothers and sisters doing in the various state governments around Australia? They are acting in a most irresponsible fashion; hence the very busy schedule of the anticorruption commissions in the various state governments.

I urge senators on the other side to exercise influence over their colleagues in the various states and to ensure that they are acting in an honest fashion. What has been proven once and for all today is that the system that was established under Prime Minister John Howard’s responsibility and control in this parliament is working. There is evidence of full disclosure and accountability. The minister has resigned. He has paid the highest price possible, and you can see exactly the result. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.