Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Deputy President. The motion today seeks disclosure of the communication between the government and relevant departments about their radical and rushed changes to Senate voting. In question time yesterday highlighted to the minister the contradictions between the public statements of 15 and 18 February that the government had not yet made a decision and the provision of the bill to the Australian Electoral Commission on 11 February. I have a great interest in exactly what the government decided to and when. This is a matter that says full transparency and exposure after we have seen an incredible rush and a sham of an inquiry that shut down senators who had valid questions to ask. As Senator Collins has observed, it was the worst she had seen in decades in the Senate. It was certainly the worst and most chilling period of evidence taking I have experienced in my relatively short time here. Most telling was the government's refusal to allow the Department of Finance to give evidence to the inquiry.