Capital Hill - Australia Post, ASIC, Federal ICAC

Capital Hill - Australia Post, ASIC, Federal ICAC Main Image

26 October 2020

TELEVISION INTERVIEW: ABC NEWS CAPITAL HILL
MONDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2020

SUBJECTS: Australia Post, ASIC, Federal ICAC, Bushfire Royal Commission.

MATTHEW DORAN, HOST: Joining us for our Monday panel, liberal MP for the Adelaide electorate of Sturt James Stevens, welcome to you, and Labor MP for Eden-Monaro in southern New South Wales. Kristy McBain Welcome. James Stevens, I want to start with you and pick up on this issue of a national integrity commission.

You've seen the development of the South Australian model it was brought in while the state Liberals were an opposition there, but you were the chief of staff to then opposition leader now Premier, Steven Marshall, that's probably more on the secretive end of the spectrum. When we look at how they operate, does there need to be a balance between that sort of secrecy and the show trials that we do get to see sometimes in New South Wales?

JAMES STEVENS, MEMBER FOR STURT: Look, absolutely. I couldn't agree more with my colleague, Celia Hammond, who you just interviewed, obviously, there are two extremes. One is extreme secrecy. The other is a completely open process where by virtue of being asked questions by the ICAC, you've got some kind of stain against you. So I would like to see us get the balance, right. That's why we're taking our time with this. And most importantly, we're going to go through a consultation process so that all the various perspectives of how to balance the need for transparency and openness with the important balance of protecting reputations is very important. We're not rushing into this, some people are playing politics with it. Frankly, the most important thing we need to do is get it right. And the process that the attorney general is undertaking, I'm very confident is going to ensure we do get that balance right.

DORAN: You mentioned they're not rushing into it, but considering everything else that we have seen been brought about quite quickly during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in the Attorney General Christian Porter, his own portfolio, whether it's industrial relations, reform and the like. This legislation has been sitting on his desk since December and matters of integrity aren't necessarily new. Can't the government walk and chew gum at the same time and get this process moving?

STEVENS: Look, I think to be fair, the attorney general has had some enormous, unanticipated challenges thrown upon him because of the coronavirus pandemic, it's been absolutely appropriate that they have been the focus of both he and the cabinet and the government more broadly, we want we had we take the integrity commission very seriously. It shouldn't be done parallel to other things that the government is committed to addressing very urgently. We need to get it right and take it seriously. And that's why we have held back on releasing the draft and having public consultation because we should be focused on it when we're having those conversations with the Australian people.

DORAN: And Kristy McBain you are a member for New South Wales, no doubt you would have been looking at some of the events that have been happening in Sydney at the New South Wales ICAC over the last month or so do you think that there is a risk that adopting that sort of model does somewhat dilute the real purpose of an anti-corruption commission that gets people swept up in it when they don't necessarily need to be?

KRISTY MCBAIN, MEMBER FOR EDEN-MONARO: Here looked at obviously, numerous models that are out there. The New South Wales model is one model where you know previously people have been bought before ICAC and later in courts found to be not guilty of any offence that was brought up in ICAC previously. So there does have to be some sensibility bought to how we come up with a model. But we need to come up with one, the draft legislation has been sitting there since December last year. At the same time, you know, the higher education reform bill has come forward the environmental protection and biodiversity conservation bill has come forward. These things I don't think were urgent or crucial to the government during COVID-19. This legislation, though, is crucial. I think the entire Australian population really wants to have faith in their politicians and this would restore some of that faith.

DORAN: We've seen the Australian National Audit Office do a lot of heavy lifting in this area in recent months or so. And most recently, last week, the revelations about ASIC's chair and deputy chair James Shipton in the ASIC chair has stepped aside pending an investigation. But do you think there's any chance he could stay on in that job particularly now that Dan Crennan has decided it's time to go?

MCBAIN: Look, I think it's really hard at the moment. I mean, we saw the Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday last week, absolutely admonish the Australia Post CEO over $12,000 for Cartier watches. That was unacceptable. But we haven't heard any such admonishing of these two ASIC individuals who their expenditure of taxpayers funds far exceeds that amount in Cartier watches. So, you know look up I hope that Christine Holgate isn't made the scapegoat for what the ANAO has exposed as pretty widespread misuse of taxpayer money in multiple - in multiple government agencies.

DORAN: James seems it seems like the Prime Minister did somewhat come in with a sledgehammer against Australia Post after those revelations were borne out in senate estimates. Do you think the same standard needs to be applied to ASIC given as Kristy McBain says it's a much more significant amount of money.

STEVENS: Well, look, I think the two matters are slightly different. I mean, handing around glitzy, you know, French watches demonstrates to me a potential culture problem broadly within Australia Post and there's an investigation into that there's equally an investigation going on into these two separate matters at ASIC. I don't think the two are the same. And I think the tone of the prime minister was very appropriate to send a very clear message broadly to senior executives that Australia Post and more broadly, frankly, throughout the country, about their behaviour. With that sort of thing in the middle of a very difficult economic circumstance. I think the ASIC matter is different. It's under investigation. I don't want to pre-empt what the result of that is going to be and when the treasurer is in receipt of that appropriate action will be taken.

DORAN: I do want to jump to something that we haven't covered off in today's programe and start with you Kristy McBain that we are expecting the final report of the Bushfire Royal Commission to be delivered sometime this week. You shot to prominence during that black summer that we just had. Do you think there is enough time between those recommendations being delivered and any sort of implementation happening before we hit the worst of the danger period in the next few months?

MCBAIN: No - not enough time. You know, for many parts of New South Wales the bushfire season commenced on the first of September. As of the third of September, there had been two high fire danger days within Eden-Monaro itself. So, you know, I welcome the Bushfire Royal Commission handing down their findings. I look forward to seeing what's in them. But I want them acted upon and I think many people right across Australia, but most importantly, my constituents in Eden-Monaro, who bore the brunt of last summer's bushfires, they want real action to come from this Bushfire Royal Commission, I want to say things implemented. They want to see more jobs within the land management agencies across the electorate. And they want to see money flowing out much more quickly than it has this time around.

DORAN: James Stevens just briefly to you on this one as well. It's not quite your electorate, but we saw fires all through the Adelaide Hills down on Kangaroo Island in your state of South Australia. How's the recovery going there from people that you speak to? And are they ready for what could be another tricky season?

STEVENS: People are very resilient, obviously. For some areas, the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island the devastation was extreme last bushfire season. We hope and pray that nothing like that is going to be upon us this season, but we're making sure we're prepared for it. At the Commonwealth level. Of course, we're working hand in glove with the states and territories who have primary responsibility for the agencies that take on these bushfire fighting responsibilities. The Royal Commission findings will be handed to the Governor General I think later this week or early next week. There's been some interim recommendations handed down we've already announced significant funding around mental health around early alert systems etc. I note just recently the RFS in New South Wales have received a new aircraft to be able to be used in this season. So actions being taken. I know when we get the recommendations, we'll respond as quickly as necessary. And we're obviously going to do everything necessary to put us in the strongest position we can be to take on the risk that's before us this bushfire season

DORAN: James Stevens and Kristy McBain surely a lot more to talk about on that issue when those findings are given to the government for your time on this Monday. Thanks for joining us.

ENDS