Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Since I have been here, in four years I have been involved in nearly six inquiries into matters related to what we have before us in the motion today. That has been very useful. A lot of good people have spent a lot of time looking at the problems, misconduct and bad behaviour in the banking industry and looking at financial regulations. The conclusion that many of us have drawn after spending time in these committees is that we need to go the next step—that the Senate has done everything it can to help these people, especially the victims of financial crime—and that we need a parliamentary commission of inquiry or a royal commission into banks which could compel witnesses and have strong investigative powers. While we support this motion today, we really have to get on with looking after victims and getting some justice for them. The Senate has done everything it can, and we do need to go to the next step.