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

Senator Di Natale, that is an extremely inappropriate question. Each of the cases you instance is either demonstrated to be false or is the subject of a current investigation. Let me start with the last of the examples you gave. In the case of Mr Moraitis, a very greatly respected and experienced public servant with a peerless career-long reputation in the Australian Public Service, a scurrilous allegation was made against him. A reference was made to the Australian Federal Police, who evaluated the complaint and found there was nothing in it. There was nothing to warrant an inquiry, nothing whatsoever. So that aspersion against Mr Moraitis you should be ashamed of, Senator.

In relation to Mr Brough, there is an Australian Federal Police inquiry ongoing. That inquiry, because it is ongoing, has not reached any conclusion nor is it a matter for Australian Federal Police to arbitrate on guilt or innocence—something which you and those who sit behind you have very frequently pointed out in this chamber, Senator Di Natale. And the same goes for Mr Stuart Robert.

Before you start throwing people's names around—people who occupy honourable and senior positions in Australian government and politics—please do not cast an innuendo against people in respect of whom it has been established that there is nothing to be investigated or in respect of whom an investigation is ongoing and has not been concluded.