Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

In a democracy, balancing the public's right to know and protecting national security is a key responsibility of the government. Over the past six years a culture of secrecy has pervaded this government. The culture of secrecy is now undermining Australians' right to know and freedom of the press. The government have responded to the AFP raids in June with complete silence, and now wish to dictate the terms of a limited and restricted inquiry into their own mismanagement and apathy. If the government refuse to support this motion, they should stand up and explain their silence over the last three weeks and why they have failed in their guardianship of one of our most fundamental democratic rights.