Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr Acting Deputy President, for your ruling. I was simply stating some facts. It's very interesting that the Liberals are jumping to the defence of One Nation, in particular when we're talking about the granting of public moneys in an election context. That inquiry, which would have examined the rot at the heart of this system and this government, was stymied. It didn't get up. So I'm very grateful to the Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit that they had a look at just this sports rorts issue. As I said, we actually wanted a far broader range of issues to be looked at, but we were overruled by the vested interests in this place.

I also want to take this opportunity, on the eve of International Anti-Corruption Day, and you'll hear a bit more from me about that tomorrow, to note with incredible joy, pleasure, happiness, contentment the role that the ANAO have played in uncovering the misuse of public funds—in uncovering the rorting, the pork-barrelling and the generally poor practices around the allocation of government grants. The same committee that published the report that we are speaking to right now previously published a report that supported the ANAO and, interestingly, supported their call for a funding increase. It was that committee that identified that, without additional funds, the ANAO's capacity to undertake audits would reduce by 20 per cent. Of course, the budget did not see an increase in the ANAO's budget allocation, and so, naturally, this government has ensured that the ANAO's output will decrease by 20 per cent. One wonders at the coincidence there, given the explosive revelations that the ANAO helped to bring to light in this sports rorts scandal. So let's hope that this present committee report isn't ignored, as that one was. But it is long past time that Australians should have confidence in the administration of their money in an election contest where seats in government are at stake. It's about time the snouts came out of the trough and we started acting in the public interest. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.