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

Thanks, Senator Pocock. I think, as I say, we are getting a little bit close to commenting on particular proceedings that are on foot at the moment. As I mentioned in my earlier answer, the Attorney-General's power to discontinue proceedings, as I think you're implying we should, is reserved for very unusual and exceptional circumstances.

You question our commitment to the protection of whistleblowers. I've already outlined to you some of the actions that we've taken just in our first 16 months. Having delivered those amendments to the Public Interest Disclosures Act, we are now beginning work on a second, broader piece of work to strengthen reforms to protect whistleblowers further. I think the fact that we have begun work, through the Attorney-General, on this matter so early in our first term does make it clear that we understand that these are significant issues that do need reform. Unfortunately, they weren't reformed by the former government, but we're already taking action on that front so early in our term, and I think that demonstrates our commitment.