Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

The government opposes the amendment. I will outline for those who may be interested that John Howard is in fact the first Prime Minister to have established a public ministerial code. Most of these issues have been previously considered by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration, through Senator Murray’s Charter of Political Honesty Bill. A report on that bill was tabled, I understand, some five years ago.

This is a stunt by Senator Bob Brown. Neither the parliament nor successive governments have imposed constraints on former ministers as to what employment they may take up after leaving office. It has been left to an individual’s judgement.