Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

Far be it from me to try to direct the work of a committee of this parliament. I will say that I hope that later this afternoon—I hope I am not foreshadowing business, Mr President—the Senate will concur with the establishment of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, which, I understand, is on the Notice Paper.

The government and I will be considering the reference—a standard measure provided to that committee after every election that occasionally specifies particular issues. That is a matter currently under consideration. But I say this again: if there is to be any movement on the issue of donations and disclosure, it cannot be to try to stack the electoral field one way, like when you come out and say, 'Corporations can't make a donation, but unions and non-profits can. There is no interest whatsoever in stacking the process. Until the Greens actually have a balanced position, they struggle for credibility on this matter.