1998-1999-2000 The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia THE SENATE Presented and read a first time Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 (Senator Murray) A Bill for an Act to provide a Charter of Political Honesty, and for related purposes [Page Break] Part 1--Preliminary 1 1 Short title ........................................................................................... 1 2 Commencement ................................................................................. 2 3 Objects ............................................................................................... 2 Part 2--Government Advertising Campaigns 3 4 Simplified outline .............................................................................. 3 5 Government Publicity Committee ..................................................... 3 6 Membership ....................................................................................... 3 7 Function of the committee ................................................................. 4 8 Guidelines for Government Advertising Campaigns......................... 4 9 Powers of the committee.................................................................... 4 10 Enforcement....................................................................................... 5 11 Interpretation ..................................................................................... 7 Part 3--Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics 9 Division 1--Parliamentary Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct for Ministers and Other Members of Parliament 9 12 Establishment and membership ......................................................... 9 13 Powers and proceedings................................................................... 10 14 Functions of the committee.............................................................. 10 Division 2--Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics 11 Subdivision A--Office of Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics 11 15 Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics ................. 11 16 Functions of the Commissioner ....................................................... 12 17 Powers of the Commissioner ........................................................... 12 18 Annual report ................................................................................... 12 Subdivision B--Conditions of employment 13 19 Term of office .................................................................................. 13 20 Remuneration................................................................................... 13 21 Terms and conditions--general ....................................................... 13 22 Leave of absence.............................................................................. 13 23 Outside employment ........................................................................ 13 24 Resignation ...................................................................................... 14 25 Removal from office........................................................................ 14 26 Acting Commissioner ...................................................................... 14 i Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] 27 Appointments on merit .................................................................... 15 28 Additional functions in relation to the code of practice for the making of appointments by ministers ........................................ 15 Part 4--Miscellaneous 16 29 Review of operation of Act.............................................................. 16 30 Regulations ...................................................................................... 16 31 Determinations................................................................................. 16 Schedule 1--Guidelines for Government Advertising Campaigns 17 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 ii [Page Break] 1 Honesty, and for related purposes 2 The Parliament of Australia enacts: 3 Part 1--Preliminary 4 5 1 Short title 6 This Act may be cited as the Charter of Political Honesty Act 7 2000. 8 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 1 [Page Break] Section 2 2 Commencement 1 This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal 2 Assent. 3 3 Objects 4 The objects of this Act are: 5 (a) to prevent the misuse of government advertising campaigns 6 for party political purposes; and 7 (b) to establish the Office of Commissioner for Ministerial and 8 Parliamentary Ethics; and 9 (c) to establish an enforceable code of conduct for ministers and 10 other members of Parliament; and 11 (d) to ensure that public appointments are made on the basis of 12 merit. 13 2 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] Section 4 1 Part 2--Government Advertising Campaigns 2 4 Simplified outline 3 The following is a simplified outline of this Part: 4 · This Part establishes the Government Publicity Committee. 5 · The function of the Committee is to monitor adherence by 6 public authorities to the Guidelines for Government 7 Advertising Campaigns contained in Schedule 1. 8 · The Committee may issue orders to enforce compliance with 9 the guidelines. 10 5 Government Publicity Committee 11 The Government Publicity Committee is established. 12 6 Membership 13 (1) The committee consists of the following three members: 14 (a) the Auditor-General; 15 (b) the Ombudsman; 16 (c) a person with knowledge and experience in advertising 17 appointed by written instrument by the Auditor-General. 18 (2) A member appointed under paragraph (1)(c) is to be appointed on a 19 part-time basis for the period, and on such other terms and 20 conditions, specified in the instrument of appointment. 21 (3) A member appointed under paragraph (1)(c) is to be paid the 22 remuneration and allowances determined by the Remuneration 23 Tribunal. If no determination by the Tribunal for that purpose is in 24 operation, the member is to be paid the remuneration and 25 allowances that are prescribed. 26 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 3 [Page Break] Section 7 (4) Subsection (3) has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1 1973. 2 (5) A member appointed under paragraph (1)(c) must not engage in 3 any paid employment that, in the opinion of the Auditor-General, 4 conflicts or may conflict with the proper performance of the 5 member's duties. 6 (6) If a member contravenes subsection (5), his or her appointment as 7 a member ceases to have effect. 8 (7) The Auditor-General and the Ombudsman may be represented on 9 the committee by a delegate. 10 7 Function of the committee 11 The function of the committee is to monitor and enforce 12 compliance by public authorities with the Guidelines for 13 Government Advertising Campaigns. 14 8 Guidelines for Government Advertising Campaigns 15 (1) The Guidelines for Government Advertising Campaigns are set out 16 in Schedule 1. 17 (2) The Commonwealth, a Commonwealth agency or a person 18 employed by a Commonwealth agency must not take any action 19 that is contrary to the Guidelines. 20 9 Powers of the committee 21 (1) If the committee is of the view that a government advertising 22 campaign does not comply with the Guidelines, the committee may 23 direct a Commonwealth agency or a person employed by a 24 Commonwealth agency to take one or more of the following 25 actions: 26 (a) to withdraw a campaign from publication or broadcasting; 27 (b) to modify a campaign so that it will comply with the 28 guidelines; 29 4 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] Section 10 (c) to refrain from further expenditure on a campaign or to limit 1 expenditure on a campaign so that it will comply with the 2 guidelines. 3 (2) The committee may determine whether the objective of a campaign 4 is a legitimate objective and whether a campaign is likely to 5 achieve its stated objective. 6 (3) If the committee is of the view that: 7 (a) the objective of a campaign is not a legitimate objective; or 8 (b) a campaign is unlikely to achieve its stated objective; 9 the committee may direct a Commonwealth agency or a person 10 employed by a Commonwealth agency to withdraw the campaign 11 from publication or broadcasting. 12 (4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not limit subsection (1). 13 (5) A direction under subsection (1) or (3) must be in writing. 14 (6) A Commonwealth agency or a person employed by a 15 Commonwealth agency must comply with a direction under 16 subsection (1) or (3). 17 10 Enforcement 18 (1) The committee may institute proceedings in the Federal Court 19 against an agency or person for contravening subsection 9(6). 20 (2) In proceedings under this section against an agency or person for 21 contravening subsection 9(6), the Court may: 22 (a) grant an injunction against the agency or person in relation to 23 the conduct that constitutes, or is alleged to constitute, the 24 contravention; or 25 (b) make an order in relation to the contravention. 26 (3) Where, on the application of the committee, the Court is satisfied 27 that an agency or person has engaged, or is proposing to engage, in 28 conduct that constitutes or would constitute: 29 (a) a contravention of subsection 9(6); or 30 (b) attempting to contravene subsection 9(6); or 31 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 5 [Page Break] Section 10 (c) aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring an agency or 1 person to contravene subsection 9(6); or 2 (d) inducing, or attempting to induce, whether by threats, 3 promises or otherwise, an agency or person to contravene 4 subsection 9(6); or 5 (e) being in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned 6 in, or party to, the contravention by an agency or person of 7 subsection 9(6); or 8 (f) conspiring with others to contravene subsection 9(6); 9 the Court may grant an injunction in such terms as the Court 10 determines to be appropriate. 11 (4) Where in the opinion of the Court it is desirable to do so, the Court 12 may grant an interim injunction pending determination of an 13 application under subsection (3). 14 (5) The Court may rescind or vary an injunction granted under 15 subsection (3). 16 (6) The power of the Court to grant an injunction restraining an agency 17 or person from engaging in conduct must be exercised: 18 (a) whether or not it appears to the Court that the agency or 19 person intends to engage again, or to continue to engage, in 20 conduct of that kind; and 21 (b) whether or not the agency or person has previously engaged 22 in conduct of that kind; and 23 (c) whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial 24 damage to any person if the agency or first-mentioned person 25 engages in conduct of that kind. 26 (7) The power of the Court to grant an injunction requiring an agency 27 or person to do an act or thing may be exercised: 28 (a) whether or not it appears to the Court that the agency or 29 person intends to refuse or fail again, or to continue to refuse 30 or fail, to do that act or thing; 31 (b) whether or not the agency or person has previously refused or 32 failed to do that act or thing; 33 6 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] Section 11 (c) whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial 1 damage to any person if the agency or first-mentioned person 2 refuses or fails to do that act or thing. 3 11 Interpretation 4 In this Part: 5 committee means the Government Publicity Committee established 6 by section 5. 7 Commonwealth agency means: 8 (a) a Minister; or 9 (b) a department of State; or 10 (c) an authority established by a law of the Commonwealth; or 11 (d) a body corporate established for a public purpose by a law of 12 the Commonwealth; or 13 (e) a body corporate established by a Minister otherwise than 14 under a law of the Commonwealth; or 15 (f) a company in which the whole of the shares or stock, or 16 shares or stock carrying more than one-half of the voting 17 power, is or are owned by or on behalf of the 18 Commonwealth; or 19 (g) a body corporate that is a subsidiary of: 20 (i) a body or company referred to in paragraph (b), (c) or 21 (d); or 22 (ii) a body corporate that, because of a previous application 23 or previous applications of this paragraph, is taken to be 24 a Commonwealth agency for the purposes of this 25 definition; or 26 (h) a person holding, or performing the duties of: 27 (i) an office established by or under a law of the 28 Commonwealth (except a judicial office or office of 29 member of a tribunal); or 30 (ii) an appointment made under a law of the 31 Commonwealth (except a judicial office or office of 32 member of a tribunal); or 33 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 7 [Page Break] Section 11 (i) a person holding, or performing the duties of, an appointment 1 made by the Governor-General, or by a Minister, otherwise 2 than under a law of the Commonwealth; 3 but does not include: 4 (j) a person holding an office established by or under any of the 5 following Acts, or holding an appointment made under any 6 of them: 7 (i) the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978; 8 (ii) the Norfolk Island Act 1979; 9 (iii) the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 10 1988; or 11 (k) any of the following: 12 (i) an Aboriginal Land Trust, or an Aboriginal Land 13 Council, established under the Aboriginal Land Rights 14 (Northern Territory) Act 1976; 15 (ii) an Aboriginal corporation within the meaning of the 16 Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976; 17 (iii) the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council 18 established by the Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay 19 Territory) Act 1986; or 20 (l) a company prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of 21 this paragraph. 22 Guidelines means the Guidelines for Government Advertising 23 Campaigns set out in Schedule 1. 24 8 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] Parliamentary Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct for Ministers and Other Members of Parliament Division 1 Section 12 1 Part 3--Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics 2 Division 1--Parliamentary Joint Committee on a Code of 3 Conduct for Ministers and Other Members of 4 Parliament 5 12 Establishment and membership 6 (1) As soon as practicable after the commencement of this Part and 7 after the commencement of the first session of each Parliament, a 8 joint committee of members of the Parliament, to be known as the 9 Parliamentary Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct for Ministers 10 and Other Members of Parliament (the committee), is to be 11 appointed. 12 (2) The committee shall consist of 6 members, of whom: 13 (a) 3 shall be senators appointed by the Senate; and 14 (b) 3 shall be members of the House of Representatives 15 appointed by that House. 16 (3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the appointment of members by 17 a House shall be in accordance with that House's practice relating 18 to the appointment of members of that House to serve on joint 19 select committees of both Houses. 20 (4) The 3 senators appointed by the Senate shall consist of: 21 (a) one senator nominated by the Leader of the Government in 22 the Senate; and 23 (b) one senator nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the 24 Senate; and 25 (c) one senator nominated by minority groups and independent 26 senators. 27 (5) The 3 members of the House of Representatives appointed by that 28 House shall consist of: 29 (a) 2 members nominated by the Prime Minister; and 30 (b) 1 member nominated by the Leader of the Opposition. 31 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 9 [Page Break] Division 1 Parliamentary Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct for Ministers and Other Members of Parliament Section 13 (6) A person is not eligible for appointment as a member if he or she 1 is: 2 (a) a Minister; or 3 (b) the President of the Senate; or 4 (c) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; or 5 (d) the Deputy President and Chairman of Committees of the 6 Senate; or 7 (e) a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. 8 (7) A member ceases to hold office: 9 (a) when the House of Representatives expires or is dissolved; or 10 (b) if he or she becomes the holder of an office referred to in a 11 paragraph of subsection (6); or 12 (c) if he or she ceases to be a member of the House by which he 13 or she was appointed; or 14 (d) if he or she resigns his or her office as provided by 15 subsection (8) or (9), as the case requires. 16 (8) A member appointed by the Senate may resign his or her office by 17 writing signed and delivered to the President of the Senate. 18 (9) A member appointed by the House of Representatives may resign 19 his or her office by writing signed and delivered to the Speaker of 20 that House. 21 (10) A House may appoint one of its members to fill a vacancy among 22 the members of the committee appointed by that House. 23 13 Powers and proceedings 24 Subject to this Act, all matters relating to the committee's powers 25 and proceedings shall be determined by resolution of both Houses. 26 27 14 Functions of the committee 28 The functions of the committee are: 29 (a) to develop a code of conduct for: 30 10 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics Division 2 Section 15 (i) ministers; and 1 (ii) other members of Parliament; 2 for adoption by resolution of both Houses of the Parliament; 3 and 4 (b) to inquire into any question in connection with its functions 5 that is referred to it by a House and to report to that House on 6 that question. 7 Division 2--Commissioner for Ministerial and 8 Parliamentary Ethics 9 Subdivision A--Office of Commissioner for Ministerial and 10 Parliamentary Ethics 11 15 Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics 12 (1) The Office of Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary 13 Ethics is established by this section. 14 (2) As soon as practicable after a code of conduct developed by the 15 Parliamentary Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct for Ministers 16 and Other Members of Parliament has been adopted by both 17 Houses of the Parliament, and whenever a vacancy in the office 18 occurs thereafter, the Presiding Officers must appoint a 19 Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics (the 20 Commissioner). 21 (3) Before appointing the Commissioner, the Presiding Officers must 22 consult with the Leader of each recognised political party that is 23 represented in either House of the Parliament and with any 24 independent or minority group senators or members of the House 25 of Representatives. 26 (4) In making an appointment under this section, the Presiding 27 Officers must: 28 (a) base their decision on merit; and 29 (b) declare any personal interest; and 30 (c) comply with any relevant laws relating to discrimination; and 31 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 11 [Page Break] Division 2 Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics Section 16 (d) publish reasons for their selection of a particular candidate. 1 (5) In this Act, Presiding Officer means the President of the Senate or 2 the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 3 16 Functions of the Commissioner 4 The Commissioner has the following functions: 5 (a) at least once every 2 years, to review the codes of conduct for 6 ministers and other members of Parliament; and 7 (b) to implement an education program for ministers and 8 members of Parliament on ethical standards; and 9 (c) to give advice on ethical standards if requested to do so by 10 either House of the Parliament; and 11 (d) to recommend guidelines to both Houses of Parliament on 12 the interpretation of the codes of conduct for ministers and 13 members of Parliament; and 14 (e) to investigate complaints of breaches of the codes of conduct 15 for ministers and members of Parliament and to report to the 16 relevant House of the Parliament; and 17 (f) such other functions in relation to parliamentary ethics and 18 standards as are determined by resolution of either or both 19 Houses of the Parliament. 20 17 Powers of the Commissioner 21 The Commissioner has power to do all things that are necessary or 22 convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of 23 his or her functions under this Act. 24 18 Annual report 25 (1) After the end of each financial year, the Commissioner must give a 26 report to the Presiding Officers, for presentation to the Parliament, 27 on the activities of the Commissioner during the year. 28 (2) The report must be prepared in accordance with guidelines 29 approved on behalf of the Parliament by the Joint Committee of 30 Public Accounts and Audit. 31 12 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics Division 2 Section 19 Subdivision B--Conditions of employment 1 19 Term of office 2 A person holds office as the Commissioner for Ministerial and 3 Parliamentary Ethics on a full-time basis for a period not exceeding 4 5 years unless a person's appointment is sooner terminated. 5 20 Remuneration 6 (1) The Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration and allowances 7 determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination by 8 the Tribunal for that purpose is in operation, the Commissioner is 9 to be paid the remuneration and allowances that are determined in 10 writing by the Presiding Officers. 11 (2) Subsection (1) has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 12 1973. 13 21 Terms and conditions--general 14 A person holds office as Commissioner on such terms and 15 conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act 16 that are determined in writing by the Presiding Officers. 17 22 Leave of absence 18 (1) The Commissioner has the recreation leave entitlements that are 19 determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. 20 (2) The Presiding Officers may grant the Commissioner leave of 21 absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as 22 to remuneration or otherwise that the Presiding Officers determine. 23 23 Outside employment 24 The Commissioner must not engage in paid employment outside 25 the duties of the Commissioner's office without the approval of the 26 Presiding Officers. 27 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 13 [Page Break] Division 2 Commissioner for Ministerial and Parliamentary Ethics Section 24 24 Resignation 1 The Commissioner may resign his or her appointment by giving 2 the Presiding Officers a written resignation. 3 25 Removal from office 4 (1) The Presiding Officers may remove the Commissioner from office 5 if each House of the Parliament, in the same session of the 6 Parliament, presents an address to the Presiding Officers praying 7 for the removal of the Commissioner on the ground of 8 misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity. 9 (2) The Presiding Officers must remove the Commissioner from office 10 if the Commissioner: 11 (a) becomes an insolvent under administration; or 12 (b) engages, except with the approval of the Presiding Officers, 13 in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office. 14 26 Acting Commissioner 15 (1) The Presiding Officers may appoint a person to act as the 16 Commissioner: 17 (a) during a vacancy in the office of Commissioner, whether or 18 not an appointment has previously been made to the office; 19 or 20 (b) during any period, or during all periods, when the 21 Commissioner is absent from duty or from Australia, or is, 22 for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office. 23 (2) Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under 24 an appointment is not invalid merely because: 25 (a) the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or 26 (b) there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the 27 appointment; or 28 (c) the appointment had ceased to have effect; or 29 (d) the occasion to act had not arisen or had ceased. 30 14 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] Appointments on merit Division 3 Section 27 Division 3--Appointments on merit 1 27 Appointments on merit 2 (1) In addition to the functions given to the Commissioner under 3 Division 2, the Commissioner must determine a code of practice 4 for the making of appointments by ministers. 5 (2) A code of practice determined under subsection (1) is a 6 disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46A of the Acts 7 Interpretation Act 1901. 8 (3) In making appointments, a minister must comply with the code of 9 practice determined under subsection (1). 10 (4) The code of practice determined under subsection (1) must provide 11 for ministers to make appointments on the basis of merit. 12 28 Additional functions in relation to the code of practice for the 13 making of appointments by ministers 14 The Commissioner has the following additional functions under 15 this Division: 16 (a) to establish guidelines for the making of appointments by 17 ministers to complement the code of practice; and 18 (b) to implement an education program for ministers in relation 19 to the code of practice; and 20 (c) to give advice on the making of particular appointments at 21 the request of individual ministers; and 22 (d) to investigate complaints in relation to breaches of the code 23 of practice or the guidelines and to report to each House of 24 the Parliament on the results of the investigation. 25 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 15 [Page Break] Division 3 Appointments on merit Section 29 1 Part 4--Miscellaneous 2 29 Review of operation of Act 3 (1) As soon as practicable after the fifth anniversary of the 4 commencement of this Act, the Minister must cause a review to be 5 carried out of the operation of this Act. 6 (2) A person who carries out a review must give the Minister a written 7 report. 8 (3) The Minister must cause copies of the report of the review to be 9 laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days 10 after receiving it. 11 30 Regulations 12 The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with 13 this Act, prescribing matters: 14 (a) required or permitted to be prescribed; or 15 (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or 16 giving effect to this Act. 17 31 Determinations 18 (1) The Presiding Officers may make determinations, not inconsistent 19 with this Act, prescribing matters: 20 (a) required or permitted to be prescribed by determination; or 21 (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed by determination for 22 carrying out or giving effect to this Act. 23 (2) Each determination must be: 24 (a) published in the Gazette within 14 days; and 25 (b) laid before each House of the Parliament as soon as 26 practicable; 27 after the determination is made. 28 16 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 [Page Break] Miscellaneous Part 4 Appointments on merit Division 3 Section 31 Schedule 1--Guidelines for Government 1 Advertising Campaigns 2 The following guidelines apply to Government Advertising 3 Campaigns. 4 (1) Campaigns should provide objective, factual and explanatory 5 information. 6 (2) Campaigns should present information in an unbiased and 7 equitable manner. 8 (3) Information presented in campaigns should be based on accurate, 9 verifiable facts and be expressed in conformity with those facts. 10 (4) Campaigns should not contain clauses or statements which cannot 11 be substantiated. 12 (5) Campaigns should present information in a way that makes facts 13 clearly and easily distinguishable from comment, opinion and 14 analysis. 15 (6) If Campaigns contain information of a comparative nature, the 16 information must state the basis of the comparison and must not be 17 misleading. 18 (7) Campaigns should not intentionally promote party-political 19 interests or give rise to a reasonable perception that they promote 20 party-political interests. 21 (8) Campaigns should present information in objective and unbiased 22 language and be free from partisan promotion of government 23 policies or political arguments. 24 (9) Campaigns should not contain any material which directly attacks 25 or seems to scorn the views, policies or actions of others, including 26 the policies and opinions of other political parties. 27 (10) Campaigns should not contain party political slogans or images. 28 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000 17 [Page Break] Part 4 Miscellaneous Division 3 Appointments on merit Section 31 (11) Campaigns should include a statement of the Campaign's 1 objective. 2 (12) No expenditure of public money should be undertaken on mass 3 media advertising, telephone canvassing or information services, 4 on-line services, direct mail or other distribution of unsolicited 5 material until the Government has obtained assent to legislation 6 giving it authority to implement the policy, program or service 7 described in the public information or education campaign. 8 (13) The only exception to the requirement in clause (12) is where 9 major issues of public health, public safety or public order may 10 arise at short notice. 11 18 Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 No. , 2000