Jeannie Ferris (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I was quite gratified when I read this urgency motion today because I agree that this is an issue above party politics. This is an issue that concerns every single member of this chamber. But Senator Evans did at least half of his speech as a bag job on the minister who is trying to make amends in this very difficult area. Senator Evans talked about a bipartisan approach, but he spent at least half of his time bagging the minister. We have just had another contribution, from Senator Siewert, which was full of bagging. So whilst I agree that a bipartisan approach is needed here—and I am disappointed that Senator Bartlett is not in the chamber to hear these contributions—I must say that I have yet to hear too much that is bipartisan in the contributions from those opposite. My contribution today is made as a former chair of the joint native title committee and as a former president of the Bennelong Society.