Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

We have a poorly informed transferee from the National Party to the Liberal ranks saying that it is unconstitutional. He should read section 122 of the Constitution. I would expect not much better from him; I do expect better from representatives of the ACT.

This is important democratic legislation; this is safeguard legislation; it is quintessential Senate legislation. The Senate was set up to defend the interests of the states and ipso facto the interests of the two territories which have emerged since the formulation of the Commonwealth by the founding fathers now more than 100 years ago. This is the Senate’s business. The Senate should be upholding the interests of people at state and territory level. This legislation does just that. I recommend it to the Senate and look forward to support from both sides of the Senate in seeing the passage of this legislation this afternoon.