23rd Jun 2021, 3:50 PM – Senate Committees - Finance and Public Administration References Committee - Refer to Finance and Public Administration References Committee

The same number of senators voted for and against a motion introduced by Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie (Jacqui Lambie Network), which means it failed.

Motion text

(1) That the Senate notes that:

(a) the Prime Minister's Statement of Ministerial Standards of 30 August 2018, at paragraph 1.3(iv), states that '[Ministers] will be required to answer for the consequences of their decisions and actions' and they 'must ensure that... their conduct in a private capacity upholds the laws of Australia, and demonstrates appropriately high standards of personal integrity';

(b) it is the Prime Minister's responsibility to uphold the Ministerial Standards; and

(c) it does not appear that the Prime Minister has taken any significant action to assess whether Minister Porter meets the criteria set by paragraph 1.3(iv) of the Ministerial Standards.

(2) That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 10 August 2021:

(a) the extent to which the presumption of innocence conflicts with the Prime Minister's responsibility to maintain public confidence in the executive, and how the Prime Minister should seek to resolve that conflict;

(b) whether a minister's obligation to uphold high standards of personal integrity in their private conduct extends to conduct engaged in prior to their commission as a minister;

(c) the adequacy of the Prime Minister's actions to assess whether Minister Porter meets the requirements of the Prime Minister's Statement of Ministerial Standards of 30 August 2018, including paragraph 1.3(iv); and

(d) any related matters.