Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I have raised this issue and have put up this amendment because of concerns that have been put to me by a number of people, whom I consider to be quite reasonable. I am constrained in giving specific, identifiable examples because they are concerned for a number of reasons in terms of client confidence and the potential ramifications for them if such a broad test is incorporated. My understanding is that, currently, if an applicant—the client, if you like, of consultants—is the subject of a 'not a fit and proper person' inquiry, then the files basically go into limbo or the abyss. I have to be a bit careful here not to identify the parties, but I understand that some of these 'not a fit and proper person' investigations can take a number of years and keep applications in limbo. If that information is wrong, I would be very pleased to hear that from the minister, and to hear what the department can tell us. That is one question.

The other question is that I would have thought the department could tell us—ought to tell us, given what is involved here—how many applications there have been under the fit and proper person test by the department, and how long those applications have taken. It is only a handful; surely they can tell us: how long do these applications actually take to be dealt with one way or the other?