Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

What we have seen in recent days is a debate about the appropriate line between parliamentarians performing their official functions and their engagement in other functions unrelated to their role as parliamentarians. It is a debate that has seen the public very strongly of the view that we ought to see parliamentarians working full time on their responsibilities and that they keep a very clear demarcation between business or other activity and their role as parliamentarians. I know Mr Vaile was the subject of much publicity surrounding his activities. So it is important, and that is why the Labor Party is very much committed to accountability measures. Senator Faulkner is working very hard on a whole range of initiatives concerning lobbyists, ministerial accountability, freedom of information—a whole range of measures that seek to provide greater transparency and greater accountability.

We have had, as you know, declarations of interest by senators and members for some time now. That has been a very useful development. A few of our senators, particularly on the other side, have fallen foul of that over the years. I think now there is a much greater understanding by senators of their obligations in terms of declarations of interest. These are issues that are very much at the forefront of public debate. It is appropriate that politicians act appropriately and that we are clear that there is a declaration—