Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Shoebridge's question goes to legal action undertaken by former Senator Rex Patrick, who I think all of us would recognise made a bit of a name for himself here in the accountability arena. I understand from Senator Farrell that now Mr Patrick, former Senator Patrick, is running for a lord mayoralty in South Australia. I presume he'll bring the same level of accountability to that role should he be successful.

In direct answer to the question, this matter, as you have recognised, is currently before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to comment. But there can be no doubt whatsoever as to this government's commitment to transparency, in contrast with the abhorrent and wilful ignorance of transparency that we saw for 10 years under the former government. We are on the verge of introducing legislation to introduce and establish a new national anticorruption commission. I see Senator McKenzie welcoming that, and I wonder why it didn't happen for any of the 10 years that she and her colleagues were in government. Perhaps one day we can talk about that outside the chamber and she can illuminate me on that. But that is one example of how this government intends to be far more transparent about its actions than what we saw for 10 years under the coalition. As I say, this matter before the AAT will be resolved, and that's the appropriate forum in which to discuss this matter.