Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Hansard source

Very briefly, I would like to just echo the sentiments of my coalition Senate colleagues and recognise, like others, that this is an example of the Senate operating at its best, with non-government senators working across the chamber to bring integrity and transparency when the government chooses not to.

In reflecting on Senator Scarr's remarks, I reflect on that wonderful quote from Edmund Burke, who said, 'Sometimes our patience will achieve more than our force.' So I would like to reiterate that the Albanese Labor government tried to reverse a requirement for super funds to disclose how they spend super members' funds on sponsorships and payments—no line items, no transparency and no accountability. These payments from super funds are for things such as $1 million footy sponsorships, corporate boxes, union kickbacks and lobbying. Australians deserve to know how their retirement savings are being spent. The changes that the government wanted to pursue go against recommendations from the Productivity Commission and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. If we want to have a serious conversation about transparency for a $3 trillion industry it shouldn't start with supporting the winding back of measures designed to let the sunlight in. All of those senators that have been elected on a platform of integrity must support this disallowance.

Going back to where I started, it is great to see non-government senators being able to work in such a cooperative manner to bring real benefits to Australians. With that, I conclude my remarks.