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

The Prime Minister listens to everybody. He mightn't agree with them all, but he listens to everyone. As I said, Senator Bilyk, in answer to your primary question, establishing a banking royal commission was not the government's preferred course, for all of the reasons that I've explained in this chamber earlier in the week and in previous weeks as well. But, in view of the way this debate was developing, the government does have a concern about the effect that some of the wilder and more foolish claims were having on the Australian financial system. For that reason and, at the request of the banks, to staunch the damage that was being done to confidence in the Australian financial system by some of the foolish claims made in the debate, a royal commission with a certain reporting date and specific terms of reference was necessary. (Time expired)