A recent revelation that Senator Bridget McKenzie failed to disclose 16 flight upgrades spanning nearly a decade has highlighted glaring inadequacies in Australia’s parliamentary transparency and accountability system. Despite breaking disclosure rules, the senator is unlikely to face any formal consequences, exposing a toothless oversight mechanism that relies heavily on politicians policing themselves.
McKenzie’s Belated Mea Culpa
Senator McKenzie, the opposition transport spokesperson, apologized on Wednesday for the lapse and hastily updated her official register of interests to include the previously undeclared upgrades, which occurred between January 2015 and August 2024. Notably, two of the upgrades were as recent as July and August this year, mere months after McKenzie asserted she had never been offered an upgrade on a Qantas flight.
Senator McKenzie’s failure to declare multiple upgrades would appear to constitute serious contempt under parliamentary rules. But we lack adequate accountability mechanisms to deal with such lapses in integrity.
– Independent Senator David Pocock
Weak Oversight, No Consequences
Under the Senate’s disclosure rules, outlined in the handbook for senators, any changes to the register of interests must be declared within 35 days. Knowingly failing to do so or providing false information is considered “serious contempt” and should be dealt with accordingly by the Senate. However, despite McKenzie’s clear breach spanning four parliamentary periods, the government appears disinclined to pursue any formal action.
Independent Senator David Pocock sought advice from the Senate office responsible for the register and was informed that the interests committee has never taken action over late disclosures. This lack of enforcement renders the system largely ineffective, relying primarily on politicians’ honesty rather than robust oversight.
The disclosure scheme is not enforced. It relies on honesty and it is a matter for the Senate to deal with circumstances when somebody doesn’t comply with the requirements.
– Former Senator Rex Patrick
Calls for Reform
This incident has renewed calls for reforming parliamentary transparency rules. Senator Pocock emphasized the need for politicians to actively regain public trust, arguing that failures to meet community expectations, such as soliciting perks for personal travel or not declaring upgrades, further erode confidence in the system.
While the opposition’s home affairs spokesperson, James Paterson, acknowledged that late updates to the register are relatively common, he stressed that all members should take their disclosure obligations seriously. However, he cautioned against implementing overly punitive measures, arguing that constituents should not be denied representation even if their elected official makes an error with their register.
A Systemic Issue
McKenzie’s case, while egregious, is not an isolated incident. A cursory review of recent disclosures reveals a pattern of politicians across party lines regularly missing deadlines to update their registers without facing sanctions:
- Labor Senator Lisa Darmanin disclosed a flight upgrade from August 18 on November 7
- Labor’s Tim Ayres disclosed July 3 tickets to the Midwinter Ball on October 31
- Labor Senator Glenn Sterle disclosed March 17 accommodation and hospitality at a transport conference on September 19
This systemic issue underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of parliamentary transparency mechanisms. Accountability should not be left to chance or the whims of individual politicians. Robust, enforceable rules and penalties are essential to maintain public trust and ensure elected officials are held to the highest standards of integrity.
As Senator Pocock aptly put it, “Pretty spectacular failures on all sides of politics to act in accordance with community expectations – whether that’s soliciting perks for personal travel or failing to declare multiple upgrades – just erodes that trust even further.” It is high time for the Australian parliament to prioritize transparency reforms and restore faith in the integrity of the nation’s democratic institutions.
