SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS IN THE SENATE
SENATOR FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

 WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO HIDE, SCOTT MORRISON?

 
In a win for public accountability, the Senate has passed Labor’s Bill demanding greater transparency and accountability of public spending.
 
But, unsurprisingly, the Morrison Government has shut down debate in the House of Representatives to block its passage into law.
 
The Morrison Government will stop at nothing to protect itself from public accountability, particularly when it comes to the way taxpayers’ money is spent.
 
The passage of Labor’s Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Amendment (Waiver of Debt and Act of Grace Payment) Bill in the Senate, with the support of the crossbench, is a win for Labor’s campaign to force this government, by law, to report the amount of public money they are spending.
 
This Bill will see the details of the discretionary debt waiver and act of grace payments, including the total dollar amount waived and paid, recorded in the Department of Finance’s Annual Report.
 
There is no doubt that new transparency measures are critical heading into the next election, especially when you consider the Morrison Government’s track record on rorting billions of taxpayer dollars to fund their own personal Liberal Party election campaign.
 
The Australian public has lost trust in this Government and they’re sick of a Prime Minister who seems to think he is above reproach and can spend public money like it is Liberal Party money.
 
Scott Morrison should have allowed debate on this Bill in the House of Representatives and support it to make it law.
 
Instead he did what he always does to avoid transparency measures and stopped it dead in its tracks this afternoon.
 
MONDAY, 9 AUGUST 2021