A $165 million alleged tax fraud has triggered a heated row during a Senate hearing, at one stage prompting Finance Minister Mathias Cormann to label a Labor senator the comical "Inspector Clouseau" for jumping to his own conclusions about who committed the crime.
Earlier in the week, officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet told a Senate committee that 11 of its contractors had been caught up in the Plutus Payroll scam.
Finance head Rosemary Huxtable confirmed to a hearing of the committee on Thursday her department was investigating whether other departments and agencies had been impacted.
They are due to report back on Friday.
Labor senator Doug Cameron couldn't understand why it was taking so long, describing it as a breakdown in governance.
Senator Cormann insisted that was not a question for Finance.
Fraudulent activity was detected and appropriate investigations were being pursued by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Taxation Office, he said.
"They are issues for Finance as far governance," Senator Cameron retorted.
Senator Cormann said the senator was conflating issues by putting together what is alleged to have happened in the private sector to what may or may not be a potential exposure to part of the public service.
"I'm conflating nothing" the Labor senator fired back.
"Responsibility of governance is your department and ultimately your responsibility."
Senator Cormann said he totally rejected accusations of a breakdown in governance.
"You keep asserting there is a $165 million fraud that is somehow the responsibility of the Finance department," he said.
At one stage, committee chairman Liberal senator James Paterson, interjected, saying while Senator Cameron was pursuing a worthy issue, his tone was "not necessary or appropriate".
Senator Cameron said that was not for Senator Paterson to determine what was appropriate.
Senator Cormann said the Labor senator was being "completely reckless and irresponsible" while reiterating there is already quite a complex investigation underway by the AFP and the ATO.
"But Inspector Clouseau over there, otherwise known Senator Cameron, has already found our all of the evidence, he has already charged, convicted and put to jail, he has already reached all the conclusions," Senator Cormann said, referring to the character portrayed by the late comedian Peter Sellers.
"That is not the way the Australian law enforcement system works."
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