Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

I confess to some confusion in relation to the Greens’ position on this. Not having given a speech in the second reading debate on this matter, Senator Brown now, as is his right, involves himself in the committee stage and has made negative comment after negative comment about the legislation but then says that he supports legislation which, in his words, is a grievous departure from the standards we expect, is inappropriate treatment of Australians without the usual checks and balances and is dismantling the liberty and freedoms that we enjoy in this country. With all those comments, he now tells us that he is going to support the bill. If he is going to support the bill, I invite him and all honourable senators to continue with the debate to get through this bill if there is such a degree of support, which I applaud.