Page 624 - Week 02 - Thursday, 24 March 2022

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The minister continues to go on about its being too hard and too costly. The question that I put to the Minister now is: what is the price of integrity? That is a question neither he nor any ministers—certainly not the Chief Minister—have been able to answer. I urge him once again to reflect on the words of the Integrity Commissioner. Yes, it might be costly, but when you compare that to what we are talking about in terms of public funds spent on procurement, what is the price of integrity?

Again, the Labor-Greens members in this place have an attitude of: “Nothing to see here.” It is disrespectful to the people of Canberra that the Labor-Greens members do not take issues of integrity seriously. It is staggering that the Greens spokesperson literally said, “What a waste of time this is.” He said that it was a waste of time to debate integrity. He has no place—

Mr Braddock: I have a point of order. I believe that I said it was a waste to duplicate the work of the Integrity Commissioner.

MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Davis): Mr Braddock, thank you. There is no point of order. Ms Lee, continue.

MS LEE: It was a staggering statement from the Greens spokesperson, and it is unbelievable that he cannot see the hypocrisy of throwing barbs and lecturing federal parliament for not creating an ICAC. He cannot see the irony in supporting this rubbish bit of an amendment from Mr Steel that is so disrespectful. It literally strips out any call to action. In fact, as the government tends to do, it is another pat on the back: “Look at us. Acknowledge us for what we have done. Look at us. Aren’t we great?” This is not even worth the piece of paper it is written on.

This is a government that is disrespectful of public money. This is a government that is disrespectful of procurement processes that the public have every right to expect would have the utmost integrity, accountability, transparency and probity. This is a government that is responsible for a shocking culture of secrecy. The Canberra Liberals will not be supporting Mr Steel’s amendment.

Question put:

That the amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

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