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

I'm very much aware that there are members of the public and experts—a range of people—who have supported broader public hearings than what are being provided for, but I'm confident that the government has made the right decision in allowing public hearings to occur if the National Anti-Corruption Commission believe that's necessary and, importantly, if they're satisfied that, firstly, it is in the public interest to do so and, secondly, exceptional circumstances justify doing so. As I said, we believe that provides an appropriate balance between the benefits of public hearings that can arise in some circumstances and be made available in some circumstances and the potential to prejudice subsequent criminal prosecution, reputations, safety, privacy, wellbeing or confidentiality.