Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for reminding me. I shouldn't have been provoked by members opposite, Mr Speaker. But let me just say this. The minister, in summing up the bill, misrepresented both its provisions and the position of members on this side of the House, and that is unworthy. What it shows is that there is nothing 'liberal 'about this Liberal government. Despite what the minister said—and he should seek to correct the record here—the powers that he seeks for himself and his officers are not proportionate. He has had every opportunity to make them proportionate to the case that he makes in this place. Instead, he consistently chooses to use rhetoric that's inflammatory and to reflect on the motives of other lawmakers. This is of course a very difficult area of public policymaking, but, actually, the politics need not be difficult. He can state the case he wants to make. He can state the problem that he wants this legislation to solve. He has chosen not to do so. The members opposite in this government have chosen not to do so. They should be condemned for it.

Bill agreed to.

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