Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question, although obviously it is fairly loaded. As I indicated yesterday in the chamber, the attitude I take to this matter is that if there are issues of concern that the senator or others hold, they ought to report those to appropriate authorities. If there are issues about criminal activity, they ought to take those to the AFP or other police authorities. If there are issues about concerns about electoral returns, clearly that is a matter for the AEC. And if, as you say—and I do not know whether or not this is right, but you claim it and I take it on face value—amended returns have been filed with the AEC, clearly the matter is before the AEC—because they now have an amended return with which they have to deal. If there is any other information you wish to raise, you ought to make it available to the AEC. Clearly, it is not for me in this parliament to arbitrate on these matters. There are appropriate authorities—be they the electoral commissions at state or federal levels, the Australian Federal Police or state police—that can investigate any concerns. If any of the senators are concerned, they ought to take those complaints to the appropriate authorities.