My view is, if it's implied, it certainly won't hurt to state it, but you are right that no set of rules, no set of principles, will guarantee appropriate behaviour in the future. I don't think we've been served all that badly. I think most people who are public office holders, and most people who are members of the Senate or the House of Commons, have done perfectly well and continue to act in the appropriate way. I think we're incredibly well served. Perhaps the ethics regime has played some small part in that, but it certainly can't be called the cause of it.
On September 20th, 2006. See this statement in context.