Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I think Dr Haines's bill goes to part of that, but Dr Haines's bill, from my quick assessment of it, has a number of other elements to it that weren't in the bill I introduced in opposition. I've already said in response to my previous answer that I believe more frequent reporting when ministers are the decision-makers in their own electorates is important; that is a key part of the transparency approach. But I also believe that modernising the grants framework and the guidelines in accordance with the work that this parliament has done through the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit and the ANAO is also a meritorious way forward, and that's the approach I've taken. I have been working on this for some time now. We engage with a lot of grants programs, many of which are ongoing, and we don't support pork-barrelling. There are ways to improve the current arrangements.