Compliance by former Ministers of State with the requirements of the Prime Minister's Statement of Ministerial Standards

September 2019

© Commonwealth of Australia 2019
ISBN: 978-1-76010-996-7

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Members

Recommendation

Committee views and recommendation

  Mr Pyne and Ms Bishop’s post ministerial employment
  Application of the ministerial standards
  The locus of responsibility
  Need for reform

Chapter 1—Introduction

Chapter 2—Background to the inquiry

  Introduction
  Statement on Ministerial Standards
  Timelines of appointments
  Investigation by Dr Parkinson

Chapter 3—Key issues

  Introduction
  The post-ministerial appointments
  Extent of the inquiries by Dr Parkinson
  The appropriateness of referring inquiries to Dr Parkinson
  Enforceability and penalties
  Strengthening the regulation of lobbyists and other integrity reforms

Additional Comments by Senator Malcolm Roberts

Australian Greens' Additional Comments

  Cooling off period
  Scope of the restrictions
  Transparency
  Enforcement
  Other integrity reforms

Additional Comments by the Jacqui Lambie Network

  Introduction
  Australians deserve better checks and balances on the post-ministerial activities of federal politicians
  Lobbying regulations are inadequate
  The Ministerial Standards should be updated to align with public perceptions of propriety, and expanded to all parliamentarians
  Federal codes of conduct should be independently administered, and there should be salient sanctions for misconduct
  Parliamentarians should be required to publish their diaries
  There should be better transparency and accountability of lobbying activities
  The Prime Minister should consider implementing ‘gardening leave’ for former ministers
  The Commonwealth needs a national anti-corruption commission with teeth
  These changes are needed to ensure lobbyists and elected officials act with integrity

Additional Comments by Senator Rex Patrick : Parting Company

  The Work of the Committee
  Dr Parkinson’s Perfunctory Investigation
  A Probity Issue That Must be Addressed
  A Standards Overhaul

Government Senators' Dissenting Report

  The facts about Christopher Pyne
  The facts about Julie Bishop
  Dr Parkinson's investigation
  Conclusion

Appendix 1—Submissions and additional information

Appendix 2—Public hearings and witnesses

Appendix 3—Motion referring inquiry, 22 July 2019

Committee Secretariat contact:

Senate Finance and Public Administration Committees
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3846
fpa.sen@aph.gov.au