Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would be delighted to return to the amendment. I would be delighted to better the standard shown by those opposite in this debate, not only this evening but also on previous occasions when we have had debate on this issue—and indeed, over the course of the last 12 months. This is the standard we have come to expect from an opposition which has come to the view that if they cannot be in charge of this place, no-one will be and they will just play the wrecking game. We know that is what this debate is about tonight. We are in what is commonly known as a filibuster. It is not new to this place. Across the other side of Members Hall we have come to expect it, but I have never seen it pushed to such an extraordinary extent—and never have I seen, as I said earlier, a member of this place stoop to the level of attacking advisers in the advisers box in an attempt to make silly little points.

Opposition members interjecting—

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