MARK DREYFUS MP

It’s time that the Morrison Government started properly managing our international relations instead of chasing headlines.

Tackling corruption is not a priority for the Morrison Government.

The truth is: The government has known for years that the Prime Minister's Robodebt scheme was illegal. The truth is that the government has known for years that the Prime Minister's Robodebt scheme was harming Australians. They were told time and time and time again. They covered it up. And now they want everyone to move on. Well, Labor will not be moving on. We will hold this Prime Minister and his grubby government to account. Australian taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the Prime Minister's $1 billion extortion racket, but it is this Prime Minister and his government who will forever wear the shame. And, no matter how long it takes, they will be held accountable.

The Morrison Government's Robodebt scheme is a cruel and cowardly extortion racket that intimidated innocent and vulnerable Australians into paying debts they did not owe.

I rise to pay tribute to a great Labor member and a great Australian Mike Kelly, the former member for Eden Monaro.

Litigation funding and class actions provide a vital path to justice for ordinary Australians trying to uphold their rights against wealthy defendants with vastly greater resources.

Since the beginning of this public health crisis, Labor's focus has been on saving lives and saving jobs.

The preceding speakers - I thank them all for the contributions they've made to this debate - have thoroughly set out the background facts of this matter.

That the sports rorts scandal reveals government corruption is beyond question.

But the response to this scandal by the Prime Minister reveals far more.

The assault on truth and accountability in Australian federal politics may sound a little dramatic, but as events over recent months, and the Government's response to criticisms have demonstrated, these attacks are becoming ever more common and pronounced.