Senator RYAN (Victoria) (15:28): I note, from the previous contribution made in this debate, it seems to be of some surprise to the Labor Party and the government that indeed it is the opposition’s job to criticise them, albeit on topics that they might not want to be criticised on.
It seems that they are upset that they do not get to choose the issues upon which they are criticised and I note that in question time Senator Lundy seemed to be disappointed and accused Senator Brandis of bringing the government into disrepute, as if somehow that was a failure on behalf of the opposition.
But there is a very important reason why that question was asked and people should take note of it. It goes to both the government’s and the minister’s ability to effectively oversee a department and it goes to the culture of the party that makes up this government.
What we are seeing in New South Wales in respect of ministers that were members of the previous Labor government is that the Independent Commission Against Corruption—established because of the corruption of the previous Labor government before that one and that saw ministers of that previous Labor government like Rex Jackson go to prison— is now doing its job a second time and exposing the underbelly of the New South Wales Labor Party to full public view.
I come from Victoria. It seems to me I cannot remember, at least in a systemic sense, the last time a Labor minister in Victoria went to jail. Sadly, citizens of New South Wales can easily remember it in their state. We can remember when former Labor premiers of Western Australia went to prison and we can remember when former Labor ministers in Queensland went to prison, so maybe we from Victoria should be a bit upset that the worst that we can accuse the Labor Party of is incompetence!
I do note, however, that there are a number of council scandals, particularly as to Brimbank, where I grew up, and that there is an investigation going on at the moment into Darebin that does involve the behaviour of Labor elected councillors. But this goes to the very culture of the Labor Party, because the culture of the Labor Party is tribal—and they brag about it. The culture of the Labor Party is so tribal that it gives them moral blindness. It gives them a moral blindness which makes those opposite unable to look at the errors and moral failures of the people on their own side.
A sad point is that the previous speaker referred to the disillusionment of the people of Australia with government at the moment.
She is quite right, because it is the government of the day that sets the tone—it is the government that sets the tone of political debate; it is the government that sets the tone of the political institutions—and it is this Labor government that has failed on every single test.
I find it amazing that we have members of the Labor Party coming in here and complaining about personal attacks when there was nothing of the sort and there was merely a question.
That is given the character assassination that happens on the other side of this building whenever the House of Representatives convenes because that is all the Labor Party can bring themselves to do.
The problem with what has happened in New South Wales is that it simply does not pass the sniff test. It does not seem in any way that any reasonable person could believe that something untoward was not going on.
Let us go to Geoffrey Watson, Senior Counsel, questioning Rosario Triulcio—and I hope I have pronounced that correctly.
Mr Watson said:
… “Are you saying that you did anything to investigate the viability of Denola as a farm?”
This is the farm that was purchased and subsequently became worth so much money.
“No,” the witness replied.
“Ever go and consult a designer or an architect?”
“No,” …
“A town planner?”
“No.”
“Local government authority?”
“No.”
“Did you know whether it was served by water, sewerage or power?”
“No.”
… “You wouldn’t have known whether they ran goats or rats or cows there, would you?”
“I’m assuming they didn’t run rats,” … The importance of this question goes to the ability of this minister and the ability of this government to effectively and fairly administer on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of Australia. But there is a bit of a problem with mines and the Labor Party because this is not the first scandal that has happened with respect to a Labor Party minister and a mine.
The first big scandal in the state of Queensland was Ted Theodore, as a former premier and with a business partner, selling a mine to the people of Queensland, so to the state of Queensland, at an inflated price without disclosing he was the owner.
Senator Brandis: The Mungana affair.
Senator RYAN: Senator Brandis, you are quite right.
The problem is that the Labor Party has a pattern of moral blindness.
That moral blindness comes from their view that the means that they undertake are justified because the ends are what they deem to be appropriate and particularly what they deem to be appropriate for all the Australian people. But the truth is that the last 20 years have seen a litany of former Labor ministers being dragged before tribunals like this and a litany of some of them even going to prison.
Question agreed to.