Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

So just to confirm, then, in relation to this bill, which you call modernisation—I'm glad we're on broadcast, because the Australian people need to clearly understand what the Albanese Labor government means when it talks about modernisation. It's not an update. An update is just that. We all have a bit of a look at it, then say, 'Yes, we like it,' or, 'No, we don't like it,' and then we change it and make it better et cetera. The Albanese government's form of modernisation that is going to be passed through the parliament—I understand the Australian Greens are supporting this—is to ensure that in relation to these four entities we are taking away from the parliament the right to consider and clearly and transparently review these performance standards, and, as we've now heard from the minister, we will never see them.

The minister can say what she likes when it comes to what's going to be in them. We will never know. Despite the fact that the minister says there's nothing to see here—let's be very, very clear. I have just asked, on behalf of the Australian people, 'Will the government commit to tabling all performance standards issued under this bill within five days of issue so that we can see them?' Let us be clear what the minister has said. The answer is no. They will remain secret. And you wonder why some of us are not supporting this particular piece of legislation! We don't support things that we can't see.

How does the bill define unsatisfactory performance for the purposes of the termination provisions?