Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Payne. Minister, I'm sure you have heard of the former New South Wales Labor politician Mr Eddie Obeid. Mr Obeid was a key player in the Right faction of the ALP and a member of the state parliament for 20 years. Sadly, Mr Obeid wasn't there to serve the public interest; he was there to serve himself. He was using his inside knowledge and his connections to line up government decisions that would benefit him and his family and rake in millions and millions of dollars in the process. Minister Obeid got caught out, thanks to an anonymous tip-off to the New South Wales anticorruption commission. The tip-off sparked an inquiry, then a full investigation and public hearings about what had been going on. He's now behind bars. My question is: if New South Wales had Mr Porter's proposed Integrity Commission instead of an ICAC with teeth, would there ever have been an investigation into the actions of Eddie Obeid, thanks to that tip-off?