Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I move opposition amendment (15) on sheet 5611:

(15)  Page 45 (after line 9), after clause 67, insert:

67A Audit committee

        (1)    Safe Work Australia may establish an audit committee.

        (2)    The functions of the audit committee shall be:

             (a)    to receive reports and request information from the CEO on the Safe Work Australia Special Account and the financial management of Safe Work Australia.

             (b)    to make recommendations on the financial management of Safe Work Australia.

I live in hope that this might be the last amendment and also the one amendment on which the Australian Labor Party might even join us, because before the last election the Australian Labor Party were very strong on openness, transparency et cetera. In speaking to that amendment, having moved it, I indicate that we as an opposition believe that Safe Work Australia should have an audit committee. Safe Work Australia will be administering a special account which will receive moneys from, as I understand it, not only Commonwealth taxpayers but taxpayers of all the states and territories. It seems to the coalition that it is appropriate that there be a provision that would establish an audit committee to examine the finances and expenditure of Safe Work Australia. I note that a similar committee did exist under the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. We believe an audit committee would be a transparency and accountability measure that should be absolutely non-controversial. Wouldn’t it be great if at the very end of this debate we could get unanimity at least on one amendment! I encourage the minister to join with the coalition on this and actually live up to one of the promises that Mr Rudd made at the last election.