Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am sure that people in the gallery this morning and those who are listening to the broadcast would agree that there is nothing more important in the management of our political affairs than how we look after taxpayers' money. In the current context people might want to add to that calling an election and defending the Constitution, but broadly speaking no-one would argue that there is a task more important in government than that of protecting taxpayers' money. So it is worth reflecting briefly on why it is that the Australian Greens are going to support the government, not the coalition, when it comes to the prudent financial management of taxpayers' money. That is worth reflecting on. The Australian Greens talk about transparency and open democracy but when the rubber hits the ground they vote with Labor. They do not vote with the prudent financial managers, the coalition; they vote with Labor. So there is a lot of talk but very little action from the Australian Greens when it comes to the proper management of taxpayers' money.

I think it is worth reflecting on two critical points. What Senator Sinodinos says is right: the two most trusted people in the Australian bureaucracy—the Public Service Commissioner and the Auditor-General—have said stop, do not proceed any further with this reform. Instead, the government in its wisdom, supported by the Australian Greens, is going full steam ahead. It is worth reflecting on what the Auditor-General said. He said, 'We would feel more comfortable with this legislation if the bill had been subject to a more open process given the number of entities and officials affected by it and because of the fundamental importance of this legislation.' It is worth reflecting on what the Auditor-General said:

We would feel more comfortable with this legislation if the bill had been subject to a more open process, given the number of entities and officials affected by it and because of the fundamental importance of this legislation.

He went on to say during the Senate estimates process:

Some more time for consultation in respect of the draft bill would have been, I think, helpful to increase the awareness of the proposals within it and to bring everyone on board with the new approach.

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