Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

Through you, Chairman: it is—in the general sense of having the legislature, the judiciary and the executive—part of the executive structure of the system of government and therefore, ultimately, it is part of the executive. Its framework for operation is set by the parliament but it is part of the executive and, at the end of the day, the executive is the one accountable for its actions every three years. But for a body which is part of the executive to be subject to written directions from a committee of the legislature I do not think is appropriate.

Question put:

That the amendment (Senator O’Brien’s) be agreed to.