Dr GARLAND (Chisholm) (16:03): I am really pleased to speak on this topic, because I know that maintaining—and, in fact, since we came into government, having to restore—the conventions of democracy is really important to me and my community. I remember when I was first a candidate in 2021 how appalled my community were at the absolute failure of those opposite to have delivered a National Anti-Corruption Commission when they were given the privilege of being in government. Our government's commitment to restore trust and integrity to federal politics is really important and it was recognised earlier this year, with Australia back in the top 10 nations in Transparency International's corruption perceptions index. We know trust declined over the years that those opposite were in government, and it is really important to me and my community—and our government—that we restore that trust. Australia's reputation was absolutely trashed by those opposite, and we fell in the ranks for the first time in almost a decade. We had the worst result, in terms of corruption perception, of any OECD country and the worst result in Australia's history. This is simply appalling. This index is a very important independent measure. It acts as a barometer of global integrity and a powerful reminder for us in this place about what is at stake when corruption is allowed to take root. We saw that for ourselves in this country. We saw that there was a link between corruption and people's faith in government being dismantled. Their participation in democracy was undermined because of the corruption of the previous government. Our commitment to transparency is unwavering— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ): Just a moment—a point of order? Mr Wallace: I ask the speaker to withdraw that comment. She is making a direct allegation against the former government as being corrupt. There is no evidence of that whatsoever. Corruption is a criminal offence. The speaker is accusing the government of criminal— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: It's not an opportunity for debate. You've raised your point of order, and I've listened. Thank you. I will ask the member to withdraw that statement. Dr GARLAND: I will withdraw that, but I'll also clarify that this is an independent measure and that Australia dropped to 18 in the rankings of Transparency International's corruption perception index. That is a matter of fact. Mr Violi: On a point of order, for the withdrawal there's no commentary required, and perception is— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No. Your point of order is denied. Dr GARLAND: Our commitment to transparency is unwavering. Following the 2022 election, we immediately embarked on necessary reform to restore public trust, strengthen accountability and ensure that integrity remains at the core of our public institutions and democracy. I actually am pretty pleased that those opposite are so agitated about allegations or perceptions of corruption, because I think it is very important that we all work together to make sure that we never again see those dark days that we saw under the previous government. Within months of coming to government, we legislated to establish a national anticorruption commission— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Excuse me, Member for Chisholm. What is your point of order, Member for Fisher? Mr Wallace: My point of order is that the speaker is acting against the standing orders. She has again— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am listening very carefully— Mr Wallace: No, just hear me out, Madam Deputy Speaker. The speaker has impugned the former government and members who are still members of this House as having been involved in corruption. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have listened very carefully. Your first point of order was taken. Your second point I do not accept. I am listening very carefully to the statements and references to a report that has been cited. You might not like that; I accept that. But it is not casting imputations against you. Mr Wallace: It's not the report. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sit, please. You do not have the call. Dr GARLAND: As I said, within months of coming to government we legislated to establish the National Anti-Corruption Commission. People in my community and across Australia had waited for years for the former government to implement its promise to deliver a Commonwealth integrity commission. Our government has delivered that. I'm really proud that we've delivered that and that that became our priority, rather than having a prime minister who decided to swear himself into secret ministries. That was an absolute distortion of this system that we need to always defend so that the public has trust in what we do here.