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

It wasn't my intention to make a contribution at this stage of the debate, but the summing-up by the minister, and, in fact, the attitude of all members opposite, requires a response. This legislation has been before the parliament for three years—three years. And in those three years—and members opposite should understand this—we have consistently sought to be constructive in addressing the issues that government members say are at risk. They have not responded for three years. Two Senate inquiries, hundreds of submissions, and this bill is friendless. There's a good reason why the bill is friendless—because it's pointless, absolutely pointless.

All the rhetoric—and I see the member for Dickson down there. I don't know if he's pleased or disappointed by the audition that we are seeing from the member for Aston, but I can say this, I think, on behalf of all members on this side and most members on that side: Minister Dutton, you are the man for that job, not the member for Aston, because you believe what you are saying.

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