George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Gallacher, the use of money is, of course, a very important vector of foreign interference, but it's not the only one. As we saw from the conduct alleged against Senator Dastyari last week, there are other ways of mediating foreign interference in our democratic polity than through money. What the government decided to do, as I said in answer to Senator Macdonald's question, is to conduct a comprehensive review so that the entire problem can be addressed as a package. That is precisely what the government has done. While the special ministers of state—formerly you, Mr President, Senator Ryan, and now Senator Cormann—have been addressing that part of the problem that does relate to foreign donations, the Attorney-General's Department has been addressing that part of the problem that deals with other aspects of the question of foreign interference so that the parliament will be invited to consider a comprehensive and thorough package of legislation which deals with all aspects of the issue.