While the Labor Party sank further into the mire, the Coalition was busy holding the Government to account in Senate Estimates.
Estimates is an important opportunity to find out exactly how your money is being spent and to ensure that ministers and bureaucrats are held accountable.
On Monday morning, I was shocked to learn that the day after the Australia Day riot, parliamentary staff had allowed Aboriginal demonstrators to light a ceremonial fire outside Parliament, which was later used to set burn the Australian flag. Such double standards have no place in our community – you or I wouldn’t be allowed to just waltz up to Parliament House and light a fire. When Parliamentary officials talk of cultural sensitivity, there should also be respect shown to those who treasure our flag.
The Australian , February 16, 2012
In the Senate Economics Committee, I teamed up with Shadow Industry Minister Sophie Mirabella. I discovered that rather than returning unspent money to the budget, the Gillard Government and Manufacturing Minister Kim Carr are avoiding their own rules and distributing tens of millions of dollars as they see fit, without any criteria.
The Australian Financial Review, February 16, 2012
I was involved in questioning the ACCC about recent research that found the big supermarkets are being dishonest about the level of discounting offered to their petrol customers.
My colleagues and I held the blowtorch to the Government about the Australia Day debacle, which saw both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader placed in an unsafe situation after gross misconduct by Julia Gillard’s staff
Hansard, February 13, 2012
There is a lot more to come out of our examination of this incident.
I took plenty of opportunities during Senate Estimates to stand up for small businesses.
I quizzed Auditor-General Ian McPhee on his new powers. Under changes made by the Labor Government late last year, it has become easier for the Auditor-General to scrutinise small businesses – cleaning contractors, plumbers or couriers – than the $50 billion Government-led NBN debacle.
I also had a chance to investigate the activities – or lack there of – of Small Business Minister Mark Arbib.
Minister Arbib delayed indefinitely the establishment of a small business dispute resolution institution. His predecessor had committed to a small business dispute resolution institution, but like the rest of his Labor colleagues Minister Arbib seemed quite happy not to keep a previously made promise.
Minister Arbib, who as well as small business, has responsibility for sports and is the Assistant Treasurer, also conveniently left his diary at home and was unable to tell the committee whether he would be travelling to the Olympic Games or attending Australia’s largest national small business conference, which are both taking place at the beginning of August.
Where are the photos of you with small business people, Minister Arbib?
I was saddened, but unsurprised, to learn that figures suggesting a high level of bullying in the public service were correct. One in five public servants reported having been bullied last year and one in three public servants with a disability reported being bullied.
The APS Commissioner, who keeps track of bullying rates, reports directly to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Gillard should take the lead in improving the culture among the public service workforce , but it will be difficult considering she has hardly exhibited model behaviour – knifing her predecessor and breaking her promises to her coalition partners and to the Australian people.
On one final note, on Monday, Four Corners on ABC1 dealt with Labor’s leadership issues. If you missed it, catch up here.