Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the Parliamentary Business Resources Bill 2017 and the Parliamentary Business Resources (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2017 on behalf of the opposition. This is another piece of long-awaited reform. As I have stated on previous pieces of legislation before this house, ever since the former member for Mackellar decided that a helicopter was an appropriate form of travel we have needed these reforms. The independent review undertaken by eminent Australians, including David Tune and John Conde, into the parliamentary expenses framework recommended a series of changes and improvements to the current system. Together with the recent statements of the Remuneration Tribunal, we are pleased to see these changes now being brought forward. The changes before the chamber seek to refine the definitions of 'parliamentary business', define the principles on which we base our expenses decisions and begin implementing the reforms so strongly recommended by the review. I note that the opposition knows the majority of the parliamentarians just want to abide by the rules and get on with the job, which is why the opposition gave a guarantee of speedy progression of this legislation to reform the system to restore public faith and to get on with the job.