House debates Questions without Notice

Donations to Political Parties

Tuesday, 15 September 2026 House of Representatives

Allegra Spender

Allegra Spender Wentworth, Independent

2:50 pm

My question is for the Prime Minister. Today is the International Day of Democracy. Last year, Transparency International ranked the Commonwealth equal-last nationally on lobbying transparency. In a time when many Australians are feeling that times are tough, a survey conducted by McKinnon found 72 per cent of Australians think politicians serve ourselves and vested interests first before we serve them. Will the government commit to following the example of most states and territories in publishing ministerial diaries or at least lists of who ministers have met, so Australians can see who really is in the room and increase that trust?

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

2:51 pm

():  I thank the member for Wentworth for her question. My diary is regularly published through FOI proposals—in response to the question. But in response to the broader question raised by the member for Wentworth as well, we established the National Anti-Corruption Commission. That was promised by previous governments but never delivered. We have strengthened the ministerial code of conduct. We've strengthened protections for whistleblowers. We've increased funding for the Australian National Audit Office. We've restored transparency to AAT appointments and established the ART. We've reinstated a standalone privacy and FOI commissioner. And we've established the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.

I'm not familiar with the statement that the member referred to. But can I say this: when I go to the UN next week, I'll meet with leaders who have never answered a question in parliament. I'll meet with leaders who have never held a press conference and answered questions from journalists. In most parts of the world, leaders do not go through the transparency that we have in this country. So I'm proud of our democracy. And when I go overseas, I'll talk up our democracy, because that's what I will do. Even in the UK—we're based in the Westminster system—the prime minister's questions are held for one hour, once a week. They are questions on the Notice Paper and then a follow-up question. It's nothing like what we have here. I think we are a great democracy, and I'm proud of it.