Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister 'Billboard' Shorten continuously hides behind the size of his department as to why he is unable to comply with orders for the production of documents. But that excuse is not good enough. Given the size of his department, surely there is someone able to do the work to properly comply with the many OPDs asked of his department? As we discovered, their comms team alone is some 180 FTE, which are in addition to his $300,000 per annum speechwriter. But, no, conveniently his large department is so large it's actually too big to comply with a simple order for the production of documents.

It is fascinating that Minister 'Billboard' Shorten and his team have enough time to plaster the faces of senators on a billboard to drive around the parliament. He has enough time to launch a website dedicated to a false—

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Kovacic, resume your seat. Minister?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm reluctant to interrupt Senator Kovacic's flow or to spend much time on the zinger that must have been drafted in her office, but, in the ordinary course of events in this place, she does have to refer to people by their proper name and title. I'd ask you to assist her with that.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is the last few minutes of the sitting week, but, Senator Kovacic, I will ask you to withdraw or, if you don't, to refer to those in the other place by their proper title.

Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will, thank you, and I'll reflect on that.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Kovacic.

Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's simply fascinating that there is time to plaster the faces of senators on a billboard to drive around the parliament, enough time to launch a website dedicated to a falsehood about the cost of the Senate doing its job and enough time to do press conferences about the same but not enough time to comply with an order for the production of documents.

I understand that some people don't necessarily understand what goes on here, and it appears that Minister Shorten finds the Senate a confusing place, but we take our job of scrutiny and house of review very seriously. If he took time to consider the Constitution, he would see that we are one part of two equal chambers, and the work we do here is important.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Polley, we are going to play fair in the last 10 minutes of this week.

Maria Kovacic (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That means Minister Shorten can't ignore OPDs when they are passed by a majority in this place. It also means he can't hide behind the size of his department. He must comply, and failure to do so is a contempt of this chamber and its powers. Transparent government is what we were promised. If the arrangements behind the hiring of the speechwriter are all above board, if there is nothing to see here, then prove it. But suspicions are rightly raised when a minister finds every way possible to avoid transparency. It then begs the question of what is being hidden.

I don't know why the orders haven't been complied with. They are a rather simple order for the production of documents. Government done differently is what was promised by the Prime Minister. I doubt that voters at the last election expected that what this really meant is a government that hides from accountability, a government that does not respect the powers of parliament and ministers who think they are above the basic principles of responsible government.

Another matter that I would like to address before the Senate adjourns is the disturbing news emerging from Bangladesh, particularly the persecution of the Bangladeshi Hindu minority. I found the recent civil unrest to be very concerning, and I know this is particularly troubling for the Bangladeshi Australian community. I've been in contact with many members of this community and, quite rightly, they are incredibly worried to see the shocking scenes across the media and social media and hear reports from their family members in Bangladesh.

We often take for granted here in Australia the fundamental rights that we all enjoy: the right to freedom of speech, the right to worship the god of your choice, the right to vote and to stand for election, and the right to live free from government overreach in our personal lives. The news from Bangladesh should serve as a reminder to all of us to cherish these rights and not take them for granted. In not taking them for granted we must seek to uphold the rights of others where we can and not sit back in comfort in our own situation in the knowledge that others are not afforded the same rights and freedoms we are.

The Bangladeshi Australian community have contributed much to the success of our multicultural society, and we must stand with them and call out what is occurring in Bangladesh. The persecution of the Hindu minority must cease, and order must be restored for the benefit of all Bangladeshis. All efforts for peace and democracy must be supported. I thank the Senate.