Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

This takes the cake. The Prime Minister also said:

Labor will restore integrity and transparency to our aged care system. Whether you are in residential care or home care, Australians should have confidence the money they are paying is going where it should …

I think anybody who has been watching question time in this last week would know the truth about this government and its care about the aged-care system.

Democracy in every nation is fragile. I could not believe the words that came out of the member for Bruce's mouth when he heaped scorn upon the concept of parliamentary accountability. Those members opposite, this government, are acting in ways which are absolutely antithetical to the principles that they stood for when they were the opposition.

Let's look at what they've done. They've cut staff numbers for the opposition and the crossbench. Most Australians might think, 'Oh well, so what?' A government is only as good as the opposition who holds it to account, and this government continues to strip away from the opposition and the crossbench our ability to hold this government to account. It also has laid on the table proposed changes to the debates on matters of public importance—like the matters that we are discussing today. In unprecedented ways, it is seeking to strip the opposition's ability to hold this government to account. It's also increasing non-disclosure agreements when dealing with stakeholders. This government does not walk the talk. This government has a rule for us when we're in government and a rule entirely for itself when it is in government. It is absolutely hypocritical.

Cutting the number of staff for the opposition and the crossbench, as I said, may not be a hot-button issue for many Australians—unlike the cost of living—but a government that strips away the ability to hold it to account is a lazy, insecure government that is frightened of being held to account. The FOI changes that this government is seeking to introduce are an absolute disgrace. A recent report by the centre for public— (Time expired)

See this speech in context