MARK DREYFUS
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
PORTER MAKES CLEAR NO INTEGRITY FOR MORRISON GOVERNMENT
The Attorney-General has today made clear the Morrison Government has no interest in integrity.
In a bizarre National Press Club address in which he had promised to spell out his plans for a national integrity commission, Mr Porter instead devoted his speech to denouncing supporters of a national integrity commission.
Rather than Getting the Balance Right as the title of the speech promised, Mr Porter made clear he does not believe that the Morrison Government or its mates, should ever be held to account and no timetable for even bringing legislation before the Parliament.
It has now been eleven months since the Prime Minister and Attorney-General announced on 13 December 2018 they would establish a Commonwealth Integrity Commission.
Its been almost two years since the Government claims it started working on a Commonwealth Integrity Commission.
Just two months ago Mr Porter promised that draft legislation would be produced well before the end of the year.
Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. When will the Prime Minister introduce legislation into this parliament to establish the Commonwealth Integrity Commission that he promised last year?
Mr PORTER (Pearce Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Leader of the House) (14:56): We have been through this a number of times and the reality is that we have taken time and care. A draft is well advanced. That will go out to public consultation. Of course, it was the case that members opposite said that when they came into government they would take 12 full months of consultation before presenting a draft. We'll do it well within that time.
House of Representatives, 11 September 2019
Given the scandals which continue to rock this tired third-term Government, its clear why the Prime Minister and Attorney-General are not in the least bit interested in integrity.
Last term, the Liberal Government voted against a royal commission into banking scandals 26 times. Despite clear public support, they had to be dragged into agreeing to that inquiry, kicking and screaming all the way. They are now doing the same thing with a national integrity commission, despite overwhelming public support for such a body from the Australian people.
Federal Labor led by Anthony Albanese is committed to tackling corruption and restoring integrity and trust in the Federal Government and we are committed to the establishment of a national integrity commission.
Unlike the Morrison Government, Labor believes tackling corruption and promoting integrity is essential to restoring public trust in government.
WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2019
