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

For a start, Senator Carr, they could have great faith in the immense experience and integrity of the royal commissioner, the Hon. Kenneth Hayne, a High Court judge for 17 years, a person renowned for his forensic skill, his deep knowledge of the way the commercial system works, as a commercial lawyer, and with a very, very tenacious sense of justice. They can be confident that the terms of reference will ensure that the entirety of the financial system—not just the banks, but other areas of the financial system, including industry super funds, which have a reputation for abuse—will also be subject to scrutiny. I wonder, Senator Carr, why it is that you demand that one part of the financial system be subject to scrutiny, but you seek to protect another part of the financial system from the same scrutiny you demand of the rest. (Time expired)