Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Over the past fortnight the Greens have proposed a robust, independent mechanism to look into Minister Porter's suitability to hold a ministerial position. Our commission would have allowed issues surrounding allegations of Minister Porter's behaviour and any implications for compliance with the ministerial standards to be considered at arm's length from politicians by a former judge who has expertise in managing evidence, the presumption of innocence, conflicts of interest and confidentiality. But government senators, One Nation senators and Senator Lambie blocked even the introduction of that proposal. This referral proposed by Senator Lambie will send those same questions to a Senate committee made up of partisan politicians dominated by government members. It is not a great forum for this important issue, but it would be better than nothing. On that basis alone, we will be supporting this referral.