Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

The question goes to the conviction of people's views when they get to the House. As Leader of the House, with the member Kennedy, who's lobbied me in many portfolios I've had over the years, right back from when I had the agriculture portfolio backing 2007 or even immigration as shadow, I will say of the member Kennedy that what he says outside the House, what he lobbies you with privately and how he votes inside the House are always the same thing. Whether you agree or disagree with the views of the member for Kennedy, he is always fearlessly in support of his electorate and he always has utter conviction in how he votes in this chamber.

I can compare and contrast that behaviour, because it would not be consistent with the rogue point of order that the Leader of the Opposition gave today for the opposition to then be voting with the Greens on, of all things, housing, the environment and immigration, and yet they have a unity ticket now all three of those. The member for Kennedy would never do anything like that. But, with housing, environment and immigration, voting Liberal or voting Green gives you the same outcome in this chamber and in the Senate. The reckless arrogance of the announcement today is extraordinary. To claim and to make the case of the connections between immigration and housing and then to decide to vote that there be no cap is reckless arrogance beyond belief.

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