QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE › Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry
Senator CORMANN (Western Australia—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Finance, Special Minister of State and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (14:24): What I would again point out to the honourable senator is that this is the first day of the royal commission getting underway. The royal commission is a process that is now underway because there was a view across the parliament that that was the best way forward. It's a matter of public record that that wasn't necessarily the government's position at all times, but we came to the view that in all of the circumstances it was the best way forward. I think the royal commission should be allowed to do its job. The independent royal commissioner has all of the powers he needs to pursue the royal commission as he sees fit, independently— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson, on a point of order? Senator Whish-Wilson: I was going to ask the minister to come to the question, President. Would he consider a request if it came to the government? The PRESIDENT: I consider the minister to be relevant to the terms of the question asked. Senator CORMANN: Thank you very much. I was actually answering precisely that question. I'm not going to pre-empt what may or may not happen down the track. I think the whole parliament should allow the independent royal commissioner to do his job independently and, if or when certain recommendations are made to the government, the government should consider them in the usual way. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson, a final supplementary question.