Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I rise briefly to speak on this motion, seeing as this is of immense importance to the people in South Australia.

To be totally frank, Bob Day came to this place telling us that we do not need regulation and that we do not need public money being spent on business. What we now know, of course, is that Australians need stronger regulation of builders like Bob Day. We also know that he has had his hand in the till, seeking public money to pay for his apprentices through the trade's training school. Of course, there is also the issue of much discussion here today in relation to his electorate office. Hypocrisy and selfishness—this is what has caused chaos in this place today and that is why we are debating this motion.

I think the reality facing Bob Day is that he was blinded by his own sense of self-entitlement. I support the referral of this motion to the High Court. Bob Day has not just let himself down or his party down; he has let down the people of South Australia. I strongly support the comments of my colleague Senator Larissa Waters: it is time we had a federal anticorruption body—a national ICAC—so that there is a proper body that can oversee these issues, from which senators can apply for advice and so that we can clean up this entire mess.