George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Attacking the attitude of the previous government, Senator Faulkner said this:

We have also seen the integrity of governance in Australia compromised.

We have seen a period when the apolitical nature of the public service has been tested and public servants’ role in policy development constrained. We have seen increased emphasis on security and secrecy undermining openness and transparency.

The opposition, of course, does not accept those accusations against the previous government, but that was the mischief that Senator Faulkner identified. To correct that mischief—that is the criterion, that is the benchmark which he set himself. This is how he announced the new government’s priorities.