In contrast, tens of thousands of public servants, defence force personnel and government contractors are required to undergo rigorous security checking before accessing confidential government information. Ministerial staff must also gain security clearances. Loading Senator Patrick’s fellow South Australian Centre Alliance MP, Rebekha Sharkie, has also signalled some interest in exploring the idea, with her adviser saying she would discuss it further with her parliamentary colleague. Senator Patrick said this week’s resignation of Andrew Broad as assistant minister to the Deputy Prime Minister “in highly compromising circumstances” demonstrated the need for security checks for ministerial appointments. Mr Broad was forced to resign and will not contest next year’s election after New Idea magazine exposed his presence on a “sugar daddy” website that connects older men with younger woman.

The Nationals MP reportedly met up with a much younger “sugar baby” going under the name of “Sophia Rose” in Hong Kong earlier this year, and exchanged lewd text messages in which he disclosed his official role. Disgraced Nationals MP Andrew Broad and Sweet Sophia Rose, aka Amy. Mr Broad’s dealings with the young woman and online presence potentially put him at risk of blackmail. Foreign intelligence services have for decades used compromise and blackmail to target politicians and government officials. There is no suggestion Mr Broad’s actions have compromised him or the Australian government in this case. Senator Patrick’s proposal is based on legislation in Canada that requires its federal ministers to undergo security checks every two years.

Under his proposal, the director general of security would advise the prime minister of any security concerns involving a minister, assistant minister or parliamentary secretary. The intelligence agency would not be able to veto any ministerial appointments and it would be up to the prime minister to decide what action is necessary to mitigate any security risks. “Regrettably it cannot be assumed that persons appointed as ministers will always be free of characteristics, activities, associations, connections or obligations that may compromise, or risk compromise of national security within the executive government,” Senator Patrick said on Tuesday. While the Labor opposition supports a more robust anti-corruption model than the one outlined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week, it is unlikely to get behind Senator Patrick’s push for security vetting of ministers. Shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus said Labor would always listen to the advice of security agencies. But it did not have any plan to change the way ministers are selected by the prime minister.