Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The reality of what we are seeing here is obviously a stunt by Senator Patrick—a stunt that goes against every single grain of everything that you stand for, Senator Patrick. We are also failing to recognise the framework of protections, measures, organisations and accountability processes that already exist within the government process. For example, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity has specialised skills to address corruption risks that face law enforcement agencies. There's the Australian Federal Police, which obviously has a very strong role to play in dealing with fraud and foreign bribery issues. There's the Commonwealth Ombudsman, which is another mechanism for investigating complaints. Other processes relate particularly to parliamentarians in relation to making sure that we deal with, for example, our expenses in an appropriate way.

We are absolutely committed to the integrity of this parliament. We will not be lying going into the next election, unlike others. We have a process that exists within this chamber that affords the government of the day the control of the order of business of the day. I am tremendously disappointed that Senator Patrick would seek to disrupt that. It goes against everything you stand for.