David Van (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Transparency, honesty and integrity are the most important factors for a functioning democracy. The people must be able to trust that their elected representatives are working in their favour. It is time to bring back integrity into this building. It is time for those opposite and the crossbench to start acting on their words.

Despite campaigning on integrity since day one, the Albanese Labor government has demonstrated anything but integrity. It seems like every time the opposition comes into this chamber asking questions of the government, the government is incredibly reticent to provide answers. We saw that in estimates most recently. When in opposition, now Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus spent years trying to get hold of the ministerial diaries of George Brandis—even taking him to court. Now in government, he refuses to release his diary, as do other ministers—all of whom campaigned on transparency, honesty and integrity. The complete hypocrisy of the Prime Minister and Attorney-General to campaign on transparency and integrity while in opposition calling for a specific act of transparency such as releasing diaries—we must do everything we can to ensure that government and government processes are transparent, and that citizens are prepared to engage with our democracy.

Question agreed to.