TRANSCRIPT - Paul Fletcher Doorstop – 6 September – Parliament House 

Paul Fletcher Doorstop – 6 September – Parliament House 

Topics: Ministerial code, Minister McBain, Standing Orders, Accountability and Transparency 

FLETCHER 

I just want to make some comments about the ministerial code and parliamentary scrutiny. Mr Albanese campaigned on a promise that he would bring a new standard of integrity to politics, a new standard of accountability. A few weeks ago we saw the ministerial code released which amongst other things includes an explicit prohibition on Ministers owning shares. Yesterday in Question Time the Prime Minister was asked about the Minister for Regional Development Kristy McBain who had disclosed that she held eight separate shareholdings, further, that she sought to transfer them to her husband, even though ministerial code says that’s not an acceptable way to deal with the prohibition in the code on Ministers owning shares. Now Mr Albanese has simply waved this away, he has said he’s satisfied, even though there was an admission that the Minister was in breach of the code, so if this is the way that very first matter under this code is going to be dealt with the question is what does this ministerial code actually mean, why is this matter not being taken seriously, under previous governments, typically these matters have been dealt with by seeking advice from the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, none of that has happened. If Mr Albanese is setting such a low bar in terms of his ministerial code the first time the first time a question has been risen under it, what does this mean under whether the ministerial code is being taken seriously? And what does it mean for the claim that Labor is bringing a new standard of integrity and transparency into politics? We also saw in parliament yesterday, the Opposition moved and were supported by the crossbench, a motion that would have increased question time so it finished at 3:30, this follows Mr Albanese cutting question time short on a number of occasions, the changes to the Standing Orders made just a couple of weeks ago were premised on there being 22 questions, Mr Albanese has been shutting off question time after 18 questions, its disappointing that Labor did not support this proposed change to question time and again a significant gulf between what Labor’s doing in government and their rhetoric about greater accountability and transparency and scrutiny. 

JOURNALIST 1

Speaking of the ministerial code, why should taxpayers have to pay $650,000 to former staffer Rachelle Miller if he was not found to have breached the ministerial code? 

FLETCHER

That’s a matter that’s been negotiated by the Department of Finance, any questions about the details should go to them. I just note that Senator Cash has made it clear she has a different version of events from those that Ms Miller has asserted but the negotiations of those arrangements were with the Department of Finance.  

JOURNALIST 2

Just wondering, do you think its appropriate that the Australian Future Leaders Foundation has yet to run a single programme? It was granted millions of dollars of funding under your government. 

FLETCHER

Look I’m not aware of that issue so I’m not going to comment on it.  

JOURNALIST 2

But do you think that funding should then be reviewed? This is something you’ve just been talking about standards about proper conduct… 

FLETCHER

Again, I’m not aware of that issue, so I’m not going to comment. Okay, thanks very much everyone.  

[ENDS]