Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

I cannot let that first comment pass. I do not think you can say at all that the system worked effectively. In fact, it is my understanding that it was a fellow Liberal colleague who ratted on a certain senator and brought this to the attention of the media and therefore the Prime Minister had to act, so to say that the senator was answerable to the Prime Minister is a nonsense. The Prime Minister, as he has said, cannot possibly monitor, remind, cajole and chastise senators who pay absolutely no regard to what is a really crucial aspect of what we do. As he cannot do it, I think it is up to the parliament to set up codes of practice for both ministers and senators in this place. The senators’ interests system goes some way towards doing that. I think it could be tightened and strengthened. It is a mechanism which works, but, while you may defend it now, there was a time, I understand, when you did not. I think appointment on merit is in the same category: you will be seen to be just behind the eight ball. It would have been a good chance for you to have won some brownie points with people who are deeply worried about the level of accountability in this place, but again you have chosen not to go down that path.

Question negatived.