Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the minister's response.

What a display of disrespect for the institution of this chamber in reviewing government policy and looking into issues of serious matters concerning the community. The idea that, as senators, we should just sit back, be quiet and do whatever the government of the day likes is just laughable. That is not the role of the Australian Senate. Our role is to inquire, to ask tough questions and to hold government to account. That is precisely why this motion, this request for the minister to respond today, was moved. At the time this motion was put forward, there were 18 reports of the Environment and Communications References Committee that this government had arrogantly refused to respond to, despite the rules and requirements and respect set back in 1973. During those times it was a big debate about the role of this chamber.

The arrogance of this government runs through everything, doesn't it? It's led from the top, by Mr Morrison himself, and it goes all the way down to Senator Birmingham, who is here today thinking that he doesn't have time, that it's not part of his job to have to read and consider and think about what his government's responses are to reports that are put forward by this chamber. Well, that's wrong. It is your job. If you want the gig of government, you take responsibility for copping accountability and scrutiny as delivered by this chamber.

It seems from the response of Senator Birmingham that, because governments past and current have been tardy in their response and accountability, they can be tardy now. They can be tardy in relation to responses to these serious and well-considered reports put forward by fellow senators in this place. This is the government of tardiness—spin, mistruth and tardiness—and we've just seen it from Senator Birmingham this morning.

There were 18 reports that the Environment and Communications References Committee considered, inquired into and reported into and that require government responses, some of which go back to 2014. That's how tardy and arrogant the Morrison-Joyce government are. Yesterday, after this request for the minister to come and explain the arrogance, dismissal and lack of accountability of his government was clear, the Senate received responses to two of these reports. Imagine that! So, if we were to keep asking for these, maybe by the end of the next term, if they were to be re-elected, we'd get some more responses. That is not how this process is meant to go.

There have been 18 reports with no response from this government, and why? It is because they do not believe they are accountable to anyone. They don't believe they're accountable to the people of Australia. They don't believe they're accountable to the chamber. They don't believe they're accountable to the institution of the Senate. This government, the Morrison-Joyce government, thinks that it's its way or the highway. They would like to write their own rules and not have to be accountable for anything.

Of course, we know the attitude of Mr Morrison in all of this: nothing's ever his fault, it's always somebody else's, and then, if he gets caught out, he doesn't tell the truth. The reputation of this government is in tatters because it is unaccountable. They think they are above everybody. They are above the law, and that's led right from the top, from a Prime Minister who schemes and twists and thinks that everybody can be taken for a fool. There is no accountability and no transparency, and when you get caught out you do your hardest to cover it up or lie through your teeth. These are the hallmarks of this government.

As we lead into what is going to be the next federal election, there are only three sitting days of this chamber left. All this request asks is that this government finally do its job and respond to the hard work of the committees in this place, the witnesses who have put forward evidence and the members of the Public Service who have participated in these 18 different inquiries across different issues. Many of them, yes, have to do with the environment, an important issue to many and most Australians, and with issues in relation to our public broadcasters and the rules that govern media in this country, another issue that is important to our community. But, no, this government thinks that if it doesn't don't have the numbers on a committee to get the reports and the recommendations that it wants then, bugger it, it's not going to respond. It is arrogant, dismissive, sneaky. It is always looking to blame someone else and cover up when it gets caught out. These are the hallmarks of this government, and this has just been demonstrated again here today.

On the eve of a federal election, when we have three siting days left of this chamber, the government has had an opportunity to come in and give some considered contribution to important issues that this chamber has debated, inquired into and worked on since 2014. Rather than taking that seriously, rather than being prepared to be held to account or to be transparent with the Australian people, we heard from the government minister that he didn't have time. He thumbed his nose at the democratic institution and role of the parliament and the right of the Australian people to ensure that there is accountability and transparency of their government. There isn't a level of accountability that this government likes. Every which way they try and avoid it. Of course there was a promise that there was going to be an anti-corruption commission in this term of government. Where is it? It's not happening. And why? Because Mr Morrison and Mr Joyce don't want the scrutiny. They don't want to be held accountable. They don't want anybody looking into their affairs. They don't want to be held responsible for the dodgy deals that the government have made with their mates in business, in corporations—big developers who've been given the green light to damage and destroy our environment. This government has an allergic reaction to truth, to accountability and to transparency. You can't trust them on anything.

It's not just the smirk that frustrates and alienates the Australian people from the Prime Minister; it is his arrogance to think that he doesn't have to do his job and that he never owes anyone the truth. Well, this chamber is standing up today against that arrogance not for ourselves but for the Australian people. The display from the minister today and their pathetic response just proves why this government does not deserve another day in office.