John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

We need to have good, viable, hardworking people on the land, Senator Dastyari.

I support this bill. When I leave this place in a bit over two years time, all I want is to see the sector cleaned up. I want to see ASIC doing their job better and see people getting good financial advice and having confidence in our institutions. Strong banks are vital. We are lucky in Australia: we have strong, profitable banks—and that is essential. Look at Ireland when they went over. The taxpayers had to bail them out. We did not have to do that, and so our banking system is essential to our economy and essential to virtually everyone in the nation. We need to make sure the banks do not just put profit before people and do the right thing by their customers. It is up to us to see that happens. So let's see how it pans out in the future. I have no doubt this bill will pass the Senate going on the numbers. My vote will probably make very little difference, but, as I said, I am not going to leave this place in a bit over two years time saying that at some stage I made a hypocrite of myself. I am not that sort of person.