Political Donations

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:39): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Attorney-General about political donations.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: InDaily reported on 20 April that the member for Kavel now has oversight of the Electoral Commission instead of Attorney-General Kyam Maher, as well as carriage of Labor's pledge from opposition to ban political donations. The article went on to posit that:

An argument could be made that by handing over responsibility for working on a donation ban to Mr Cregan, it may give Labor an out if it does prove too hard to develop legislation robust enough to face legal challenge.

My question to the Attorney-General is: did the Attorney-General intentionally handball responsibility for the ban of political donations to the member for Kavel because he knew it would be too hard to achieve the government's election promise?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:40): No.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I will listen to your supplementary, the honourable deputy leader.