House debates Motions

Morrison Government

Monday, 26 October 2020 House of Representatives

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition

2:54 pm

I seek leave to move the following motion:

That the House:

(1) notes the Morrison Government is weighed down by scandal and integrity issues, including:

(a) the corrupt sports rorts scheme, with colour-spreadsheets used to divide up taxpayer money, and emails going in and out of the Prime Minister's office;

(b) airport rorts in which the Government paid $30 million for a piece of land worth $3 million;

(c) stacking the Administrative Appeals Tribunal with Liberal mates;

(d) paying a Liberal Party mate and former Crosby Textor pollster more than a million dollars for taxpayer-funded market research;

(e) the Prime Minister's Office recommending long-term Liberal mate Peter Crone for a lucrative Government contract;

(f) the ASIC Chair and former Deputy Chair together claiming more than $180,000 to which they weren't entitled;

(g) Australia Post spending $20,000 on Cartier watches;

(h )reports the Assistant Treasurer used taxpayer-funded staff to branch stack; and

(i) the Minister for Energy being involved in too many scandals to count; and

(2) therefore condemns the Prime Minister for treating taxpayers' money as though it is his own.

Leave not granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving the following motion forthwith:

That the House:

(1) notes the Morrison Government is weighed down by scandal and integrity issues, including:

(a) the corrupt sports rorts scheme, with colour-spreadsheets used to divide up taxpayer money, and emails going in and out of the Prime Minister's office;

(b) airport rorts in which the Government paid $30 million for a piece of land worth $3 million;

(c) stacking the Administrative Appeals Tribunal with Liberal mates;

(d) paying a Liberal Party mate and former Crosby Textor pollster more than a million dollars for taxpayer-funded market research;

(e) the Prime Minister's Office recommending long-term Liberal mate Peter Crone for a lucrative Government contract;

(f) the ASIC Chair and former Deputy Chair together claiming more than $180,000 to which they weren't entitled;

(g) Australia Post spending $20,000 on Cartier watches;

(h )reports the Assistant Treasurer used taxpayer-funded staff to branch stack; and

(i) the Minister for Energy being involved in too many scandals to count; and

(2) therefore condemns the Prime Minister for treating taxpayers' money as though it is his own.

Leave not granted.

The watch is ticking on the need for a national integrity commission, and the rot starts at the top.

Christian Porter

Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General

2:57 pm

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The question is that the Leader of the Opposition be no longer heard.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

3:04 pm

Is the motion seconded?

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts

Seconded. The culture comes from the top. They treat taxpayers' money like it's their own, like it belongs to the Liberal Party—

Christian Porter

Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The question is that the Manager of Opposition Business be no further heard.

Richard Marles

Richard Marles Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence

3:07 pm

Rorts and arrogance are what defines this Prime Minister. The Liberals have been—

Christian Porter

Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General

I move:

That the question be now put.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The question is that the question be now put.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

3:10 pm

The question is the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition be disagreed to.