Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

The government's behaviour in hiding from answering questions and avoiding accountability is not acceptable. Answering questions is important for accountability. The people deserve accountability, and they deserve respect.

Look at the list of questions here. In today's Notice Paper, the Senate notes that, as at 9 am on Monday 8 May 2023, there are 1,929 questions on notice from the 2022-23 supplementary budget estimates which remain unanswered and are overdue. From Prime Minister and Cabinet, 591 questions are not answered; from Defence, 408 questions; from Health and Aged Care, 401 questions; from Social Services, 189 questions; from Foreign Affairs and Trade, 133 questions; from Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, 52 questions; from Employment and Workplace Relations, 42 questions; from Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 26 questions; from Finance, 26 questions; from Treasury, 25; from Services Australia, 22; from Industry, Science and Resources, nine questions; and from Attorney-General's, four questions.

Senators, there is only one word to describe this government's attitude to Senate estimates, to questions on notice and to orders for the production of documents, and that word is 'contempt'. The government continues to treat this chamber with utter contempt. Almost every order by this Senate to produce information is met by the government with contempt, and it is appropriate that we begin to treat the ministers who treat this Senate with contempt appropriately.

We've had explanation after explanation from ministers. Ministers are all too happy to come into this place, fluff around and cop a lashing for an hour and continue to refuse to produce the information that this Senate has ordered. They just put up with the hassle for an hour, and it's over. The explanations from ministers are not good enough, and it is not good enough that this Senate continues to accept them without any further action. It's time for this Senate to use its constitutionally enshrined powers to hold ministers to account, and that must be through charges of contempt when they continue to disrespect orders of the Senate.

I remind senators that it is this Senate, not the government-dominated Privileges Committee, that makes the final determination on matters of contempt. The Senate decides whether or not someone is in contempt. If this Senate is not happy with a minister's disobedience of a direct order, then the Senate itself can vote on contempt, which we should do and which should happen. The time for meaningless, hollow explanation after explanation is over.

The people of Queensland did not elect me to represent Malcolm Roberts. The people of Queensland did not elect me to represent the One Nation party, although I am very proud to be in One Nation. The people of Queensland elected me to represent the people of Queensland and Australia. That is why we're here. I go out and listen in the electorates and then I speak for the people in this chamber. So when the government holds the Senate in contempt, the government holds the people of Queensland and Australia in contempt. The government is repeatedly holding the people of the states and Australia in contempt. There are jail cells in the basement of this building. It is time for the executive government to be reminded why they're there. Start serving the people or start serving time in jail.

Question agreed to.