WONG: Thanks, thank you very much. Can I first say again as Labor has said, how appalled I am as all Australians are at the sentence that Peter Greste has received. Our thoughts are with Peter and his family and as Tanya Plibersek has said we stand ready with the Government to work with the Government to do anything that can be done to assist Peter and his family at this time.
I also want to make some comments about Senate accountability and what we saw in Senate Question Time yesterday a fairly extraordinary sight of senior Ministers gagging themselves in Question Time. Senator Cormann and Senator Brandis refusing to answer questions about current controversies, questions that Senator Brandis for example was very happy to do media about earlier in the week.
It really demonstrates the Governments approach to the Senate where it doesnt view itself as having responsibility and accountability to the Australian people through the Parliament. Question Time is a time for answers as well as a time for questions.
Finally, Id like to make some comments about the reports in relation to Senator Arthur Sinodinos. Lets just recap, the reports today deal with one of two ICAC inquiries, Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiries, examining in part Senator Sinodinos conduct. Now obviously we all await ICACs decision but Id make this point Senator Sinodinos was an office holder of both Australian Water Holdings and the Liberal Party at a time where funds were being funneled to the Liberal Party. He told us he didnt know about this. He has never provided a full, frank and clear explanation to the Senate about his conduct. If Mr Abbott is seriously considering returning Senator Sinodinos to the front bench, he needs to explain how his conduct makes him fit for high office. This will go to Mr Abbotts judgment.
Senator Sinodinos, still has yet to make a full, frank and clear explanation to the Senate about his conduct. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Do you think even though, even if hes cleared of any corruption or found guilty of any corruption that theres still a question mark that hangs over Arthur Sinodinos?
WONG: Senator Sinodinos failed to give a full and clear explanationto the Senate about how he could be an office holder in both the Liberal Party and Australian Water Holdings but know nothing about the donations.
What he did tell Australians and the Senate was all would be revealed at ICAC. Lets remember we got at ICAC, we got a lot of I dont recall. I think that the Senate and the Australian people deserve a better explanation than the one that Senator Sinodinos gave the Senate. They deserve a proper explanation. That is the standard expected of Ministers.
JOURNALIST: Yesterday you, in Question Time, you were questioning the Attorney-General about the potential ramifications for the removal of the word occupied. You didnt really get an answer on that. What do you think there are economic ramifications for senator Brandis decision to change the policy.
WONG: What was noticeable in Question Time is that Senator Brandis refused to answer the question. Quite extraordinary - he gagged himself. Certainly there are reports that Minister Bishop has gagged Senator Brandis, well it appears hes gagged himself, refusing to answer important questions about the consequences of his freelancing on foreign policy for Australia. He should have provided an explanation and he refused to.
JOURNALIST: So, why did Labor decide to change its support, I suppose, for the Chaplaincy program, to open it up to secular service providers?
WONG: That has always been Labors position. In Government we ensured that funds could be used by schools for a chaplain or a case worker, a secular case worker and that remains the position.
Thank you.
ENDS