Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to the amendments that you have moved, the government is prepared to agree to those amendments. We have reviewed the Senate committee report and we have obviously discussed this. The amendment is to define 'dishonestly'. The term 'dishonestly' is used, I am instructed, in the comparable Criminal Code offences of bribing a Commonwealth public official.

In relation to the word 'improperly', it was recommended by Heydon as part of the recommendations. I disagree that there is not clarity surrounding the use of the term 'improperly'. There is actually a common-law definition of improperly, which the courts will utilise to obviously determine whether or not something was improperly done. However, for the purposes of clarification, and certainly, as I said, to work in good faith, we are prepared to accept the amendments and utilise the term 'dishonestly'.